Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 492

Don't eat me.

Inside the cave lies the most powerful evil spirit in the entire Qin family ancestral home.

However, it lost its composure to this extent because of the approach of others, which seems to be a kind of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The word "eat" is very important.

Among them, someone reminded it of a similar "environment" from years ago, triggering a deep-seated fear within it.

Li Zhuiyuan had found the answer in his heart.

But we still need to use the process of elimination.

Chen Xiyuan received her little brother's instruction and obediently let go of her hands and stepped back.

"Don't come over here, don't eat me!"

The terrified tone inside the cave did not lessen.

Answer verified.

Runsheng, Tan Wenbin, Lin Shuyou, and even A Li all heard the boy's voice from the bottom of their hearts. They all stepped back, leaving the boy alone in front.

Li Zhuiyuan broke the red thread and walked forward on his own.

The boy who entered the cave raised his hand and gently turned around.

The giant python understood, and its body writhed, landing in front of the tiny person. It was as if a mountain was pressing down on it, and soon the cave entrance was sealed.

Li Zhuiyuan went alone to the depths of the cave. The furnishings here were not luxurious, but they could be described as exquisite.

There is a living room and bedrooms, all carved out of the python's body, and even the furniture is made of snake bones.

The light source is the enormous snake eye coiled inside the python; when it looks up, it resembles a blood moon rising just for itself.

An elderly man dressed in white fine clothes was huddled under the table, holding onto the table leg with one hand, his body trembling violently.

He only had half a body; it was as if half of his body had been vertically cut away.

The meat strips on the cross-section instinctively spread outwards, like bean sprouts.

It could extend outwards time and time again, only to wither and retract again and again. The body's self-repairing function was still there, but this body could never recover even a fraction of its former state.

It's unclear how long this state lasted, but the fact that he could still sit among the first group of evil spirits in the Qin family's ancestral home despite such extravagance is enough to demonstrate the old man's power.

It is no exaggeration to say that it could easily kill itself, including all its companions outside the cave, if it wanted to.

However, Li Zhuiyuan knew that once he demonstrated his talent at the entrance of the ancestral home and officially stepped inside, there would be no direct danger to his life.

The reason we arranged everyone in a defensive formation earlier wasn't because we were afraid it would suddenly turn on us, but because even a simple roll over by an ordinary person could accidentally crush a mosquito on the bed.

Now, there is no need.

In relationships, when you discover that the other person is afraid of you, you will naturally feel relaxed.

But Li Zhuiyuan wanted more. He planned to strike while the iron was hot and push forward the purpose of his visit.

Wei Zhengdao had cleared out an entire forest for himself in advance, but fortunately, he could still pick up a few rotten fruits from the ground every now and then.

The old man seemed to muster his courage, and shakily raised his head to look at what lay before him.

Li Zhuiyuan noticed that when the old man's one-eyed gaze fell on him, the old man's aura was rising at an astonishing speed.

What it fears is not itself, but Wei Zhengdao.

Li Zhuiyuan decided to dress it in a tiger skin again.

The emotions in the boy's eyes dissipated, replaced by a cold indifference, echoing the feeling he had when he was having an attack.

"Aaaaaah!!"

The old man was so frightened that he pulled his head back in, trembling even more violently.

Wei Zhengdao lived a long time, and his life was divided into several stages.

When Wei Zhengdao stole the books from the Qin family's ancestral home, it must have been during his early years, as he was still accumulating knowledge at that time.

The old man before them, also known as the White Tiger, was Wei Zhengdao, whom it had encountered, who had at least completed the journey to become the Dragon King.

Therefore, although both Gu Xie and this old man in the Sutra Pavilion had contact with Wei Zhengdao, they did not have contact during the same period. Gu Xie also said that Bai Hu was a later arrival and surpassed Wei Zhengdao in this Qin family ancestral home.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the table and sat down in the chair.

The boy's action further intensified the old man's fear, and he actually lay down on the ground and began to tremble.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm sorry."

The boy stood up and left his seat.

Dining tables and chairs are too suggestive of mealtimes.

The boy had already achieved the desired effect and had no intention of further intensifying the oppression.

With his condition under control and his gaze softening, Li Zhuiyuan spoke:

"Get up, let's talk."

After a long while, the old man raised his head again and looked at the boy. He slowly stood up with one hand supporting him on the ground, but this time, although he stood up, his aura did not rise.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Sit down."

The old man sat down.

Above, the snake's eyes were vacant, as if it were in a daze. It only provided illumination and dared not look closely without thinking.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Are you asking me, or am I asking you?"

Old man: "You...don't you recognize me?"

This is a temptation.

Fear runs deep, but pride is also etched into that very core.

Li Zhuiyuan was certain that he was neither the reincarnation of Wei Zhengdao nor his designated successor.

Even in front of Qing An, the boy insisted that he is him and I am me.

However, each situation should be analyzed individually, and we should first focus on the main contradictions at present.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, gently stroking his forehead, and slowly said:

"There are some things that I don't remember very clearly."

The person he once was, perhaps he is sleeping somewhere, perhaps he is sealed away somewhere, perhaps some are sleeping and some are sealed away, or perhaps he has already died completely.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't answer, but the old man's pupils dilated as a result.

These kinds of questions don't require explicit answers; they'll fill in the blanks themselves with suitable responses.

After a moment of silence, the old man spoke again:
"So...who are you now?"

“Li Zhuiyuan, the successor of the Qin Liulong King’s lineage, your patriarch.”

"Head of the family...the head of the house? The head of the house. The head of the house!"

The old man's expression shifted from doubt to apprehension, then to calm, before immediately brightening with surprise and excitement.

The interpretation is roughly as follows:

Since you say you're the head of my household, then you can't eat me!

The experience of being served at the dinner table has tormented it to this day, but the boy now holds the key to help it break free from the shackles of fear.

Li Zhuiyuan took out the key to the Qin family's ancestral home, placed it on the table, nodded, and said:
"As long as you're good."

“I…I’m good…” The old man’s face beamed with joy as he nodded vigorously. “Patriarch, I’m good!”

That's enough for now; it's time to stop.

The essence of the story of the fox borrowing the tiger's power lies in always remembering that you are still just a fox, and not actually fooling yourself and getting completely caught up in the act.

Most importantly, the one in front of you is not the kind of harmless cat or dog that you can tease at will.

You need to leave yourself some room for maneuver, in case the other person realizes what's going on later.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Do me a favor."

The old man rose from his seat, preparing to kneel down.

"Stand."

The old man knelt on one knee: "Master, what are your orders?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm going to take a group of my poor relatives out for a visit. If necessary, I'll let them eat their fill and treat them to a big meal."

The fear resurfaced in the old man's eyes.

It understood what the boy meant, and it also understood the consequences of doing so.

This kind of thing can only be done once. Once the evil spirits in the ancestral home are allowed to riot in the mortal world, the pure land of the Qin family will no longer be allowed to exist by the Heavenly Dao.

But its essential fear stems from Wei Zhengdao. He has stayed in the Qin family ancestral home for so many years, not only because he was influenced by the Qin family story, but also because he was full of fear of the outside world.

It was as if Wei Zhengdao was everywhere outside.

No one in this world, and certainly no evil spirit, can empathize with its past experiences.

For the Dragon Kings of all generations, defeating and slaying evil spirits was not difficult, but eradicating them and preventing their resurgence was very troublesome. The more powerful and bizarre the evil spirit, the more difficult it was to completely annihilate it.

Even evil spirits are aware of their own characteristics. Even if they are defeated and suppressed, they can use time to make a comeback in the future. After all, the dragon king who defeated them has a long life.

The once arrogant White Tiger thought the same thing.

Even after being defeated by that terrifying man, it still dared to stare at him with its hateful tiger eyes, in order to show its pride.

Until that man served it on the table.

The man sat at the table and picked up his chopsticks.

The white tiger immediately realized that everything about it was being broken down, like an ingredient being processed, cleaned, marinated, cooked, plated, and served...

The man dine with elegant manners, while the woman, like a ball of yarn being gradually stripped away, watches her own existence slowly diminish.

It finally realized that in front of this man, evil... had no future, and the ashes that fell into its belly could not be rekindled.

The extreme horror and terror further stimulated and revived its ancient divine beast bloodline.

"boom!"

The chopsticks in the man's hand broke.

It was free, it was freed, like a meatball slipping off a plate, rolling off the plate, and onto the table.

Even so, it still didn't have the courage to fight back. At that moment, its only thought was: escape!
It broke through layers of restrictions and smashed through arrays, unleashing the full power of its remaining body. It succeeded; it escaped.

At the moment of its escape, it turned around and looked back with its one eye.

I saw the man sitting at the table some distance behind me, holding a black handkerchief in both hands, gently wiping the corners of his mouth.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't meet the old man's gaze, but instead looked down at his fingers.

The boy knew the old man would agree; it had been hiding there to avoid the terror outside, but now, the terror itself had grown legs and entered the house, walking right up to it.

"Master, may I ask which kind of wealthy family you intend to dine with?"

"A Dragon King's residence that has produced three Dragon Kings in history."

"Should we create the greatest possible impact?"

"That's enough." Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the top of his head. "It's keeping a close eye on me. I won't release everyone unless absolutely necessary."

The old man looked up.

The giant python above was so frightened that it closed its eyes, and the cave was pitch black, as if the lights had been turned off.

Then, the giant python reacted and immediately opened its eyes, but because of its instinctive fear of the old man, it trembled, its snake eyes flashing, and the cave was constantly changing between light and dark.

The old man frowned. He knew who the boy was referring to, but what was this little earthworm looking for to make its presence felt?

A single hand clenched into a fist.

"boom!"

The giant python's body trembled violently, and a large amount of blood gushed out, resembling lava from a volcanic eruption.

The old man said, “Please rest assured, Master, I will arrange it for you as quickly as possible. First, let them seal themselves, and then you can personally seal them.”

Sealing evil spirits is very troublesome, but if they can not resist or even seal themselves on their own, the difficulty is much lower.

But the boy shook his head and said, "I won't add this seal. If I really need to use it, I'll have to remove it myself. I don't know if I'll have the time or the opportunity."

I want you to come with me.

The old man gritted one side of his teeth and said sincerely, "Patriarch, I am not suitable. Please choose one of the other two."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Are you afraid that you'll hesitate at the crucial moment, thinking that if I die in an accident, it will be a greater relief for you?"

Old man: Yes.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I don't know what will happen after I die. I only know that some people will be very happy, as if a thorn buried in their hearts has been completely removed."

Old man: "..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You should think of it this way: whether I live or die, you've already been half eaten."

If you stand by and do nothing, and I really die, your other half of your body will not recover. And if I miraculously survive, the remaining half of your body is also destined to perish in the future.

Therefore, the only way you'll truly benefit is to firmly choose to help me.

The old man said, "Master, I understand. I will accompany you. Please rest assured!"

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the key he had placed on the table: "Give it back to me when you're done using it."

Only those who have mastered the Qin Clan's Observation of Dragons Technique can use this key to unlock the array restrictions within the ancestral home. However, having it in hand will greatly reduce the suppression experienced throughout the ancestral home.

The old man took the key in his hand, then turned around and threw a punch with his one arm.

"boom!"

There's a hole in this mountain.

It's like opening a huge mouth on a giant python, from which massive, bloody snake scales fall freely.

The old man went outside.

Li Zhuiyuan watched as the old man's figure was swallowed up by the clouds.

In the old man's eyes, being served on the dinner table by Wei Zhengdao was the source of his heartache in this life.

But from another perspective, being able to escape from Wei Zhengdao's dinner table is also an affirmation of its past strength.
Li Zhuiyuan knew Wei Zhengdao very well; he was an absolute perfectionist.

He wouldn't deliberately leave leftovers by only eating half of his meal; he would eat everything on the table, leaving nothing behind.

Li Zhuiyuan suspected that Wei Zhengdao must have felt very uncomfortable about the white tiger that had suddenly escaped from the dining table.

But he won't show it; most likely, he'll try to cover it up and embellish it to maintain his image.

For example, you could pick up the wine glass next to you and take a small sip, or take out a handkerchief and gently wipe your mouth.

Despite the excruciating pain, the giant python reopened the previously closed entrance, allowing Li Zhuiyuan to return the way he came without having to exit through the opening the old man had made and then circle halfway around the mountain.

The old man's way of dealing with the giant python was the most normal ecology among the evil spirits in the Qin family's ancestral home; there was no need to pity it or feel sorry for it.

Even if their stance is now aligned with the Qin family, evil spirits are still evil spirits. Which of them didn't cause trouble and devour countless people in the past?
The Qin family members were not won over by love and kindness.

Li Zhuiyuan reunited with his companions, nodded to them, and said:

"Everything is going smoothly. Let's wait to pack up the local specialties."

In the distance, the first strong aura fluctuation appeared, signifying that the first evil spirit had completed its self-sealing.

Soon, it was the second course.

The White Tiger's execution efficiency is extremely high.

Li Zhuiyuan, holding A Li's hand, strolled back to the Sutra Repository.

Just as I reached the door, a voice came from inside:
"Master, your book is left here."

Li Zhuiyuan patted his pockets and said, "It was my carelessness; I didn't even notice."

The boy walked up the steps and pushed open the door of the scripture pavilion.

The man in blue stood there empty-handed; the candle in his hand was gone. The wordless book lay quietly on the ground.

Li Zhuiyuan bent down, picked up the book, and habitually turned to the first page.

The layout of the scene on the first page has changed; what was originally a normal woman's boudoir has become a wedding room, complete with red paper, red gauze, red banners, and a red screen...

A woman in a red wedding dress, with a red veil covering her face, sat gracefully beside a red wedding bed, holding a red candle in her hand.

The man in blue dripped wax onto the "evil book".

Li Zhuiyuan: "What, you like this style now?"

The man in blue said, "Patriarch, I didn't touch this book."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Well, apart from becoming a bit more festive, there really aren't any other changes."

The man in blue patted his chest and said, "That's good. I was afraid that the head of the family would blame me and suspect that I had ulterior motives."

Li Zhuiyuan: "How could that be? I trust you completely. You are my servant now. I don't believe you have the guts to betray me."

A flicker of firelight flashed in the empty sockets of the man in blue's eyes, as if he were smiling knowingly.

"Master, things should be ready soon over there."

"Well, I should go too."

"With you by the Qin family, it will surely be revitalized. I miss the busy feeling of those days."

Hehe, the Qin family excels in physical strength. Although each generation has produced individuals skilled in other areas, capable of continuously developing and improving their branch lineages, most Qin family members…

The man in blue poked his forehead with his hand.

The unspoken meaning: You know what I mean.

How could it not be tiring to help these martial artists find, read, and discuss books?

It can be tiring, but also fulfilling, which makes one's value and role stand out even more, giving the Qin family's story more attention and vividness.

Li Zhuiyuan was about to leave, but stopped abruptly as he turned around.
asked:

"How were you captured and brought back to the Qin family to be suppressed?"

The man in blue clenched his fist and pounded it against his forehead, shaking his head and forcing a bitter smile as he did so.
"Although I am skilled at sowing discord and manipulating people, back then, that Qin family Dragon King..."

Ugh,
He couldn't understand me, and I couldn't understand him.

"hehe."

Li Zhuiyuan put away the "Book Without Words" and walked out of the library.

Tan Wenbin and his team have already started moving things.

The evil spirit, which had been sealed away, was cast into the snake scales by the old man. The snake scales were then folded to form a normal-sized black box.

It's not heavy, it's very light, but whether you carry it or lift it, as soon as you make contact, you can feel a terrible pressure, and it's like you can hear the whispers of a demon in your ear.

Back in college, Li Zhuiyuan had a similar experience when he walked up to the third floor of Grandma Liu's house.

Fortunately, everyone can now withstand the normal spillover of this evil influence, but remember to remind He Shen and his drivers not to touch these boxes.

The only white box belonged to the old man, and Li Zhuiyuan personally carried it.

The large wooden raft at the entrance of the ancestral home was piled up very high.

Runsheng led the way, wrapping the vines around his shoulders and pulling them along; Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou accompanied him on either side to prevent him from slipping; Chen Xiyuan stood alone on top of the pile of boxes, unfolding the domain to secure it.

Li Zhuiyuan and A Li lagged behind, and as they crossed the threshold, the evil spirits echoed behind them in unison:
"Congratulations to the head of the family!"

Li Zhuiyuan waved the key in his hand, and the Qin family's gate closed.

This time, except for a few places, the rest of the area was deliberately shrouded in mist and fog. Li Zhuiyuan hopes that he can return to this home normally in the future, clear away the fog and fog, and properly walk around and see the place.

The boy took the girl's hand and caught up with the moving team ahead.

"Let's go, Ah Li, let's go to Qiongya."

……

It is currently the peak season in Hainan.

When crossing the strait, there is a queue at the ferry terminal.

In the latter half of the night, after all the trucks in the convoy had boarded the ship, He requested that everyone get off and go to the second floor of the ship, where there were rows of chairs where everyone could lie down and sleep or rest. When it was time, staff would notify them and then direct the drivers to drive the vehicles off the ship in batches.

Tan Wenbin refused, telling He Shen to take the drivers to rest while they remained in the car.

He Shen noticed how much importance everyone placed on this shipment along the way, but he didn't say anything more. After leading the drivers upstairs, he soon brought out the noodles and rice noodles that had been packed up and distributed them to everyone.

Tan Wenbin slurped up a mouthful of noodles and then drank a sip of soup. The hot soup melted away the frost in his stomach, giving him a feeling of thawing.

He Shen tucked a cigarette behind Tan Wenbin's ear, lit one for himself, and put it in his mouth.

Tan Wenbin: "Brother Shen, you used to work in Hainan?"

He Shen: "I've been there before. Back then, I was all alone with just one car, like a guerrilla fighter. I would go wherever there was money to be made. I've been to MapleStory many times."

Tan Wenbin: "MapleStory?"

He Shen: "Yes, there are cyclical periods every year. Due to the lack of transportation capacity, the freight costs here will increase significantly. If you are lucky enough to get in, you can get lucrative orders."

But it's hard to say. Sometimes, once you drive your car onto the island, because there are more cars coming in, the freight costs suddenly drop significantly, and it's not easy to find a suitable fare to leave the island. It's like gambling or taking a risk.

I was just unlucky; every time I came, I wasted my time. Later, I finally decided to create a dedicated transport route, mainly through the Western Regions.

He Shen is now quite wealthy, and he only personally led the team because of his fellow townsman and friend, as well as because Tan Wenbin offered him a high freight rate.

Actually, when Tan Wenbin first met He Shen, he sensed a bandit-like aura about him. This was unavoidable, as fixed transportation routes and gangs fighting for territory are very similar, and sometimes they have to fight each other with real weapons.

"By the way, Binbin, what does your family do?"

"My dad is a policeman."

He Shen licked his lips, exhaled a smoke ring, and smiled.

Tan Wenbin finished his noodles, took the cigarette from his ear and lit it: "How many cars does Brother Shen have under his control now?"

He Shen gestured a number with both hands.

Tan Wenbin: "So many?"

He Shen: "You can make money by driving cars, then use that money to buy more cars. Now that there are more and more roads being built and they are getting better and better, this business can continue to snowball."

Tan Wenbin: "Brother Shen, don't just buy cars. Cars are too slow on the road. Buy airplanes instead."

He Shen: "Hahaha!"

When we arrived at the port, it was just before dawn, the coldest time of day.

Tan Wenbin asked Chen Xiyuan, "Is this warm Hainan? It feels similar to Nantong, and a bit humid."

Chen Xiyuan: "It would be better if we went further south. Not all places in Hainan have a pleasant climate all year round."

The convoy continued its journey from north to south, stopping to rest in a town near Wuzhishan.

Runsheng and Tan Wenbin stayed behind at the convoy and had lunch with the drivers. In the afternoon, Tan Wenbin had to go and ask the drivers to wash their feet.

After a long and rushed trip, they needed to treat themselves. They also had to pay for the empty car and let He Shen take them to wait for their return journey.

If things go smoothly, all those truckloads of evil spirits that were brought out will still need to be sent back to the Qin family's ancestral home.

Li Zhuiyuan, A Li, and Lin Shuyou, led by Chen Xiyuan, entered the mountains. Miss Chen's cave was located here.

Long ago, Chen Xiyuan said that her younger brother could choose whatever was in her cave, and she also instructed Tan Wenbin to call several trucks when he came to pick up the goods.

There's no rush to see it right now; we can come back and collect this generous gift when we leave. But no matter how well the plan is made, no one can predict whether something will go wrong when it's actually implemented.

For Chen Xiyuan, being able to show the gift she had prepared to her little brother before officially informing her grandfather would give her peace of mind in the end.

Upon reaching the crevice between two small hills, one finds a magical formation. From the outside, the interior appears unremarkable, but once inside, it is sure to be a hidden paradise.

Chen Xiyuan said that in the past, every generation of Chen family members who traveled the river would be assigned to this cave dwelling. Resources were constantly being pulled out and replenished, and the land deeds were constantly being renamed.

As soon as Li Zhuiyuan stepped inside, a beautiful scene of rippling blue water appeared before his eyes. Behind the small lake, at the entrance to the cave, ancient trees reached for the sky, and fallen petals were scattered everywhere, resembling a secluded fairyland inhabited by mountain immortals, as described by ancient literati.

However, Li Zhuiyuan said something quite jarring at this moment:

"There's someone inside."

The formation had been activated not long ago, and the person who set it off had dealt with it. However, Chen Xiyuan rarely returned to her cave dwelling in the past. When she was in Hainan, she spent most of her time as a music teacher at a school, and later she lived in Nantong.

The people who came in dealt with the traces of the array, but they couldn't avoid wiping away the "dust."

Moreover, the changes in the "dust" indicate that the person had not yet left after entering.

Chen Xiyuan immediately stood in front of everyone, while Lin Shuyou quickly retreated behind them.

An aged voice echoed from within the cave:
"Incredible, truly incredible. In my entire life, I have rarely seen anyone who can comprehend and master formations to such a subtle degree as Patriarch Li."

The person who came out of the cave was Chen Pingdao.

He had a gourd of wine tied around his waist. He was not tall and had a slight hunchback. He looked like an ordinary local old man.

Chen Xiyuan said coldly, "Why are you here!"

Chen Ping said, "Grandpa is getting old and misses his granddaughter, so he comes to visit her place and reminisce over familiar things. Is that not allowed?"

As Miss Chen's domain expanded, a sea of ​​clouds filled the air, interspersed with the faint sound of thunder.

She knew how powerful her grandfather was, so she dared not relax in the slightest. As soon as her grandfather made a move, she would be the first to rush up and hold him back, so as to create an opportunity for her little brother behind her.

Li Zhuiyuan reached out and gently patted Chen Xiyuan's waist with the back of his hand.

Chen Xiyuan moved to the left to make room.

However, in front of Li Zhuiyuan, the area was still within Chen Xiyuan's domain, and the view was still obscured by the sea of ​​clouds.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Clear the fog."

Chen Xiyuan: "Oh, okay."

As the fog dissipated, Li Zhuiyuan was able to meet Chen Pingdao's gaze from a distance.

"Master Chen, are you waiting here for your granddaughter, or for me?"

“I am really waiting for my granddaughter. I don’t know where Xi Yuan went or when she will return to the island. The flute in Xi Yuan’s hand can block all my investigation and deduction.”

Most importantly, I didn't expect that Patriarch Li, who is already so close to my Chen family's territory, would still make a special trip here. Patriarch Li, aren't you afraid at all?

Chen Xiyuan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Li Zhuiyuan's red thread bound Chen Xiyuan to him.

Chen Xiyuan was just about to warn her grandfather that her little brother had brought a lot of local specialties from the Qin family when her little brother stopped her with a red thread.

What we brought must be known to Chen Pingdao, otherwise it would be a waste. But before that, we might as well observe Chen Pingdao's true attitude when he is not being coerced.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I am a guest invited by Patriarch Chen, why should I be afraid?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Pingdao shifted his gaze back, as if pondering whether Liu Yumei had also arrived.

Otherwise, the boy's confidence at this moment cannot be explained. This is not bluffing; it is a clear indication that he intends to test me.

Chen Ping said, "Patriarch Li, could you please grant me two more days? Two days from now is my 70th birthday. After the birthday banquet, I will give Patriarch Li an explanation."

Chen Xiyuan: "You're sixty-nine this year, and you'll be seventy next year."

Chen Pingdao laughed and said, "Hehe, the weather is unpredictable, and people are subject to misfortune at any time. What if I am no longer here when I celebrate my birthday next year?"

"It's better to hold the ceremony early while we're still breathing. It'll give the family an excuse to get together properly. Otherwise, it'll just end up as a portrait on the altar, and we'll only be able to watch you all drink and talk, feeling anxious and helpless."

Chen Pingdao shifted his gaze from Chen Xiyuan's face back to the boy, lightly flicking his sleeves and placing his hands behind his back:
"Please, Patriarch Li, grant this old man two more days, just two days."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Patriarch Chen, shall I make a bet with you? Something unexpected will happen in the next two days."

Chen Ping said, "Does Patriarch Li not want to see this change happen? Some things are better to happen right before our eyes than to let them brew in secret behind the scenes."

"Master Li, please rest assured, since you are a guest invited by this old man, I will naturally be responsible for your safety in Qiongya. But if anything unexpected happens, I will be there to protect you."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then I wish Patriarch Chen a long and prosperous life, with boundless happiness and longevity."

Chen Ping said, "If possible, please invite Patriarch Li to our home early that day for a drink."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It depends on the time."

Chen Ping said, "Xi Yuan, come here, Grandpa has a few words to say to you."

Chen Xiyuan didn't move, still standing in front of the boy.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Go ahead, after all, they're family."

Li Zhuiyuan took A Li's hand and left the mountain crevice.

Lin Shuyou followed him out, taking deep breaths repeatedly.

Although Grandpa Chen did not make a move just now, Ayou was still under a lot of pressure.

Only after confirming that her little brother had left and gone far away did Chen Xiyuan take the initiative to walk towards her grandfather.

Chen Ping said, "Xi Yuan, your grandparents can't bear to part with you, so they've been telling you since you were little that you should find a son-in-law to live with them and continue living in the Chen family."

Why don't you find someone younger? Grandpa will understand. At least you know your childhood sweetheart well.

Just because you can find a mistress doesn't mean you can be one yourself.

Chen Xiyuan ignored her grandfather's joke and asked directly:

"Even if I believe you're just a kid I bumped into here by chance, why didn't you explain things clearly when you had such a good opportunity? Why wait two days?"

Chen Ping touched his nose and said, "You didn't understand, but that kid already understood what I meant."

Chen Xiyuan: "I don't want things to drag on and get complicated. I hope this matter can be resolved as soon as possible."

Chen Ping said, "Xi Yuan, are you in such a hurry to see your grandfather die?"

Chen Xiyuan: "Grandpa, you were the one who planned to kill my little brother first."

Chen Pingdao untied the wine gourd from his waist, pulled out the stopper, took a sip of wine, made a "tsk" sound, and smacked his lips a few times.

Chen Xiyuan: "Grandpa, you've dragged this out long enough. The sooner you admit your mistake, the smaller the consequences will be, and you might even be able to avoid going..."

Chen Ping said, "I did nothing wrong!"

Chen Xiyuan took a deep breath.

Chen Ping pointed to the top of his head: "He's the one who's wrong! If you don't believe me, you can go and ask that little brother you're talking about, and see what he says to you."

Chen Xiyuan bit her lip.

Chen Pingdao first looked puzzled, then his face lit up with realization, and he said, "Xi Yuan, so you knew all along, didn't you?"

Chen Xiyuan's eyes were red, and her lips were bleeding from being bitten by her teeth.

Chen Ping said, "He's really honest with you."

Chen Xiyuan: "Even if you, Grandpa, and everyone else in this world, including the heavens, say he's wrong, it won't matter to me, because he saved my life!"

After taking several more sips of wine, Chen Pingdao pushed the cork back in and said with a smile:
"Regardless of right or wrong, what's done is done. Even if I, your grandfather, want to bow my head and admit my mistake, am I supposed to just say it? Or am I supposed to just kneel on the ground and let myself be killed or tortured?"

Xi Yuan, whether you want to admit your mistake or try to settle things peacefully, it's inappropriate to go empty-handed. You should bring something with you.

So he understood, and he was willing to give his grandfather time to bring the apology gift over for him to see.

"Hiss... Grandpa's just wondering, that kid's so smart, how can he put up with my precious silly granddaughter constantly hanging around him? Doesn't he get annoyed and speechless?"

Chen Xiyuan: "What gift? I'll go with you to pick it up."

Chen Ping said, "You can't go. It's dangerous. People will die. I don't know if I'll even make it back alive."

Chen Xiyuan: "Then we should go together. My domain has become stronger recently."

Chen Pingdao walked up to Chen Xiyuan, straightened up slightly, and reached out, barely managing to pat his granddaughter's shoulder:

"Grandpa, wouldn't it be better if he just died like this?"

Chen Xiyuan straightened her body and clenched her fists.

Chen Pingdao smiled kindly.

"You like following him so much, if Grandpa really dies at his hands, how will you two continue to play happily together in the future?"

(End of this chapter)