Slaying demons and eliminating evil, a martial saint among mortals.

In the afternoon, Qin Lie went out for a while.

We're going to Dongxuan City tomorrow.

This was his first long trip since he transmigrated, so he needed to prepare the necessary items.

Heishan Town is not a large place, and there are not many shops on the street.

Qin Lie bought some dry food for the road and two sets of clothes to change into.

As for weapons, he wasn't in a hurry to buy them.

In a small place like Heishan Town, the knives you can buy are at best only slightly better than the wood-chopping knife you have at home.

Moreover, he is going to the Demon Suppression Division in Dongxuan City tomorrow, where they might distribute weapons.

If he really makes a fortune, then buying a knife now would be a waste of money.

Even if the Demon Suppression Bureau doesn't issue them, it's still possible to buy them once we arrive in Dongxuan City.

There are definitely more options in the big city than in Black Mountain Town.

After buying what he needed, Qin Lie took another stroll around the streets.

In the end, I bought a large water vat, a stone mill, and a donkey.

These items are not cheap, but they are indeed useful for the home.

The water vat can store water, so Liu Yunniang won't have to run to the well all day long anymore.

A stone mill can grind grain, and with more grain at home, you can cook more food.

Not to mention donkeys.

It can be used for everything: fetching water, hauling firewood, and exchanging goods in town.

These things aren't something you buy and then use only once; they can stay at home indefinitely.

If Qin Lie doesn't buy them, even if Liu Yunniang has three taels of silver, she probably won't be willing to spend it on these things.

Qin Lie was willing to buy these things partly so that Liu Yunniang and the two children could have an easier life in the future.

On the other hand, he also wanted to try to see if doing so could increase his family's wealth value.

Since it's called a family business, besides protecting the family members, acquiring things, and improving their lives, it should also be considered as expanding the family business.

If it can really increase the family fortune value, then spending this money will be even more worthwhile.

When Qin Lie led the donkey and hired someone to help deliver the water vat and stone mill to the Zhang family's courtyard, Liu Yunniang was cooking in the kitchen.

She heard a noise outside the courtyard gate, went out to take a look, and was immediately stunned.

"Brother Qin, what's wrong with you...?"

Liu Yunniang looked at the brand-new water vat, then at the stone mill and the donkey standing beside it, and for a moment she didn't react.

"What are you going to do with all this?"

"That must have cost a lot of money, right?"

Qin Lie led the donkey into the yard and tied it with a rope.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I'd like to buy some useful things for the house."

Liu Yunniang quickly stepped forward.

"How can this be allowed?"

"You've already given me the three taels of silver."

"These things aren't cheap either. You're going to Dongxuan City tomorrow, and you'll need money everywhere on the way and in the city."

"I can fetch water in a few more trips, and I can borrow grain from other people's homes."

"There's no need to buy this donkey; we don't have much to haul at home."

She spoke quickly and urgently, her eyes constantly fixed on these items, clearly distressed by the money Qin Lie had spent.

"Sister-in-law, I've now joined the Demon Suppression Division, and I'll receive a monthly salary from now on."

"These things, once bought, can be used for a long time."

"With a water tank and a donkey, carrying water and hauling firewood will be much easier for you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunniang's eyes reddened slightly.

"But you can't always be thinking about us."

"You're leaving tomorrow. Once you get to Dongxuan City, you won't know anyone or anything, so you should keep some money on you."

Qin Lie waved his hand.

I know what I'm doing.

"My sister-in-law saved my life, and Brother Zhang helped me out before. Consider these things as me repaying those favors."

Liu Yunniang opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what else to say.

She lowered her head and gently touched the brand-new water vat.

She had considered buying such a water tank before.

But there was simply no extra money at home.

On ordinary days, it's good enough if we can fill our stomachs, let alone have money to buy these things.

"Brother Qin."

"You've been good enough to our family."

Liu Yunniang lowered her voice.

Just as Qin Lie was about to speak, several lines of prompts suddenly appeared in front of him.

[The Zhang family courtyard has been equipped with a water tank, a stone mill, and a donkey.]

[Family Business Status: The dire situation has somewhat eased]

[Liu Yunniang's sense of security increased]

Xiaohe and Huzi's living conditions have improved.

[Gain +5 Family Business Value]

Current family fortune value: 5

Upon seeing these prompts, Qin Lie was immediately overjoyed.

It works!

It seems his previous judgment was correct.

Improving living conditions at home can also increase your family's wealth value.

It was worth the money.

If it weren't for the fact that he had to go to Dongxuan City tomorrow and needed to keep some money on him for emergencies, Qin Lie really wanted to take out all the remaining money and make up for everything that was missing in the courtyard at once.

However, these five points of family fortune are enough for now.

And this time it was just to verify his idea.

Black Mountain Town is too small after all.

It's not too late for him to start managing this family after he's established himself in Dongxuan City.

Liu Yunniang had no idea what Qin Lie was thinking.

"Brother Qin, take a rest for a while."

"The food will be ready soon."

"I sold the rat demon from last night at the town's pharmacy and got some silver."

"I bought some wine, and I'll cook you two of my signature dishes tonight."

Qin Lie snapped out of his daze and nodded.

"it is good."

Liu Yunniang turned around and went back to the kitchen.

As expected, Liu Yunniang prepared a table full of dishes that evening.

Although they were all ordinary home-cooked dishes, it was quite a feast compared to what we usually eat.

There was also a pot of wine on the table.

"Brother Qin, you're leaving tomorrow."

"Consider tonight's meal a farewell dinner for you."

Sitting in his wheelchair, Zhang Erniu personally poured Qin Lie a bowl of wine, his face still bearing that honest, simple smile.

"Your father saved my life back then."

"I haven't been able to take good care of you all these years, I'm sorry to your father."

"Now that you've made something of yourself and joined the Demon Suppression Division, I can finally rest easy."

Qin Lie picked up the wine bowl, but did not drink it immediately.

The night before, Zhang Erniu had forced Liu Yunniang to go to the side room to keep him company, trying to take away the vacancy left by his father.

Now, however, they're putting on a show of respect for him, like an elder seeing him off.

Qin Lie didn't know how much sincerity Zhang Erniu had in his words.

However, he did not point it out on the spot, but simply clinked his wine bowl against Zhang Erniu's.

"Brother Zhang, you're too kind."

"We're all one family."

After saying this, Zhang Erniu's smile deepened considerably.

"right."

"We're all one family."

Zhang Erniu tilted his head back and finished the wine in his bowl, then poured himself another bowl.

"Brother Qin, let me have a few more words from my heart with you."

"Dongxuan City is a good place, but the situation there is chaotic."

"There are all sorts of people from all walks of life."

"You've just arrived and are unfamiliar with the place, so you must be extra careful when you encounter anything."

"If you suffer injustice outside, or are short of money, don't try to tough it out on your own."

No matter how tough things get at home, they'll always be there for you. No matter how far you go, never forget where your roots are!

These words were spoken with great sincerity.

Qin Lie, however, understood what Zhang Erniu was really trying to say.

Zhang Erniu said all this because he wanted him to remember the Zhang family.

Even if you go to Dongxuan City in the future, you must not forget the people here.

Of course, what Zhang Erniu most wanted Qin Lie to remember was that he should give his Zhang family a share of the monthly salary he received.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang."

"I remember it all."

Qin Lie agreed readily.

Zhang Erniu was taken aback for a moment, but quickly laughed again.

Liu Yunniang, who was standing to the side, remained silent.

She kept putting food on Qin Lie's plate and would occasionally glance at the wound on his arm that hadn't fully healed.

Qin Lie could clearly see the worry in her eyes.

I guess there were some things he couldn't say in front of Zhang Erniu.

Tiger, however, didn't have that much on his mind and kept hovering around Qin Lie, asking him all sorts of questions.

"Uncle Qin, is Dongxuan City particularly large?"

"Uncle Qin, will you be able to kill lots and lots of monsters in the future?"

"Uncle Qin, if you become successful in the future, will you still come back to visit us?"

"You haven't forgotten about us, have you?"

After the last sentence was spoken, the atmosphere at the table immediately quieted down.

Xiao He quickly reached out and pulled Hu Zi, telling him to stop talking nonsense.

Qin Lie smiled and reached out to pat Hu Zi's head.

"Of course I'll come back."

"How could I possibly forget you?"

"Once I've established myself in Dongxuan City, I'll take you to see the city for yourself."

Tiger's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

"good!"

"Uncle Qin promised he'd take me with him."

Zhang Erniu's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

However, Qin Lie still noticed this change.

He only said that he would take the two children to visit Dongxuan City in the future, and Zhang Erniu reacted in this way.

I wonder how Zhang Erniu will react if we really take Liu Yunniang and her two children over in the future.

However, taking them to Dongxuan City was indeed part of Qin Lie's plan.

On the one hand, it's to continue managing the family business and gain family business value.

On the other hand, since he had promised to take care of Liu Yunniang and the two children, he wouldn't leave them in this dilapidated little courtyard forever.

"This is a good thing."

"Once Brother Qin has truly established himself in Dongxuan City, let the two children go and broaden their horizons as well."

"Children can't stay in small places all the time. If they go out and don't know anything, they'll easily become a laughing stock."

With a smile on his face, Zhang Erniu continued speaking in the same vein as Qin Lie.

The meal continued late into the night, with each person lost in their own thoughts.

Qin Lie's original self used to be mentally unstable and never drank alcohol.

Zhang Erniu kept urging him to drink, saying that after they parted ways tomorrow, he didn't know when they would be able to sit down and drink together again.

One bowl after another.

Although Qin Lie was much stronger than before, his body had never drunk alcohol before, and in the end, he couldn't hold on any longer.

By the time the party ended, he was already feeling the effects of the alcohol and was even a little unsteady on his feet.

Liu Yunniang quickly came over and helped him back to the side room.

When he got closer, Qin Lie could smell the faint scent of soap on her.

After returning to the side room, Liu Yunniang helped Qin Lie sit down by the bed, but did not leave immediately.

She stood by the bed, head down, and didn't say a word for a long time.

"Sister-in-law, I'm fine."

"Go back and rest."

Qin Lie leaned against the headboard, his voice already somewhat slurred.

Liu Yunniang still didn't move.

After a long while, she spoke softly.

"Brother Qin, you're leaving tomorrow."

"This journey to Dongxuan City is so far, I don't know when I'll be able to return."

Qin Lie did not respond.

The oil lamp in the room flickered a few times.

I know you don't mind.

"These days, you've made me feel that there's still hope for this family in the future."

"I don't want anything else."

"I just want to...I just want to spend time with you tonight."

When she said these words, Liu Yunniang's face was already flushed.

However, she did not lower her head to avoid him; she simply stood there and looked at Qin Lie.

Qin Lie was also looking at her.

He drank quite a bit of alcohol, but his mind wasn't completely muddled.

He knew who was standing in front of him, and he also knew what Liu Yunniang meant by "accompanying him".

"Sister-in-law, have you thought this through?"

Liu Yunniang raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes and tried to put on a smile.

"I've thought it through."

I have no regrets.

Qin Lie looked at her and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he reached out and grasped Liu Yunniang's wrist.

Liu Yunniang seemed to have finally let go of all her worries and threw herself into Qin Lie's arms.

Qin Lie looked down at the woman in his arms.

Liu Yunniang's body trembled slightly, but she did not back down.

After a moment, Qin Lie raised his hand and gently pressed on the back of her neck.

Liu Yunniang's body went limp, and she collapsed into his arms.

Qin Lie reached out to support her.

"Sister-in-law, you shouldn't have traded yourself for these things."

The wind outside is getting stronger.

The lights in the room flickered a few times before finally going out.

That night, there was no other sound in the house.

The next morning, before dawn, Qin Lie opened his eyes.

His head still hurt a bit, probably from drinking last night.

Just as Qin Lie was about to get up, he felt something pressing down on his arm.

Looking down, he saw Liu Yunniang lying next to him.

Her long hair was spread out on the pillow, and there were still faint tear stains at the corners of her eyes, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.

Qin Lie remembered what happened last night very clearly.

He did not touch Liu Yunniang.

After Liu Yunniang lost consciousness, Qin Lie originally intended to send her back.

However, Zhang Erniu and his two children lived in the outer room.

If he were to take Liu Yunniang back in the middle of the night, it would definitely alert them.

Qin Lie was also afraid that Liu Yunniang would feel embarrassed after waking up because of what he had said last night, so he simply let her stay in bed for the night.

I sat by the side until late at night, and finally couldn't stay awake any longer, so I lay down.

As for what Liu Yunniang will think after she wakes up, we can only find an opportunity to explain later.

Qin Lie knew that she had no other intentions.

She was forced by life to the point of desperation, which is why she thought of using her body to give her two children and this family a chance to survive.

For a woman to go this far, she must have been terrified for a long time.

From now on, Qin Lie has an additional responsibility for this family that he cannot shirk.

However, before that, he still needs to make himself stronger.

In this day and age, having ideas but lacking strength won't protect anyone.

Qin Lie slowly pulled his arm out.

Liu Yunniang's eyelashes trembled slightly; it was unclear whether she was awake or not.

Qin Lie glanced at her but didn't call out to her.

But at that moment, he suddenly noticed that Liu Yunniang's sleeve had slipped open a bit.

There were several bluish-purple bruises on his exposed arm.

Some of the colors have faded, while others are clearly recent.

The new wound was pressing on top of the old one, and it was clear at a glance that it had been going on for a long time.

Qin Lie's face immediately darkened.

He has seen it all these days.

Liu Yunniang was busy from morning till night, taking care of the whole family, and she never said a harsh word to her.

How could such a woman have so many scars on her body?

The answer is already clear.

Who else could it be but Zhang Erniu, who is in a wheelchair?

Qin Lie had initially been somewhat polite to Zhang Erniu.

Now, even that bit of politeness has completely disappeared.

Qin Lie reached out and gently pulled up Liu Yunniang's sleeves to cover the wounds.

However, he did not wake the person up.

Some things, even if said now, won't solve the problem.

He made a mental note of this debt.

When he returns from Dongxuan City, he will settle accounts with Zhang Erniu one by one.

Qin Lie had considered dealing with Zhang Erniu right now, but he quickly gave up on the idea.

He is now a member of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Whether the people in the Demon Suppression Division kill people or demons, they must have a reason that they can justify.

Moreover, Zhang Erniu was a paralyzed man with crippled legs and no weapons.

If Qin Lie were to kill Zhang Erniu in the courtyard today, regardless of the real reason, his reputation would be ruined once word got out.

Killing Zhang Erniu is not difficult.

The difficulty lies in how to handle the aftermath after the killings.

Therefore, this strike cannot be made yet.

We'll have to wait until he's established himself in Dongxuan City before he comes back to deal with this matter.

Qin Lie had also considered warning Zhang Erniu before leaving, telling him not to lay a hand on Liu Yunniang again.

However, he suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

It was truly satisfying for him to say a few harsh words today.

But after he leaves, he won't come back for anywhere from one or two months to more than half a year.

If Zhang Erniu is still angry, he might take it out on Liu Yunniang.

On the contrary, it will only cause her to be beaten a few more times.

The most important thing now is to save enough money for her and her two children to live on.

Qin Lie quietly got up.

I packed all the dry food and changes of clothes I bought yesterday into my bundle.

After leaving the side room, he took out the remaining silver from his pocket and took out two taels.

Qin Lie went into the kitchen and hid the two taels of silver at the very bottom of the rice jar.

When the rice was almost finished, Liu Yunniang would naturally notice the two taels of silver.

Zhang Erniu will most likely interfere with the arrangements of the three taels of silver he gave me yesterday in front of him.

However, only Liu Yunniang, who was responsible for cooking every day, could discover the two taels of silver in the rice jar.

With Liu Yunniang's intelligence, seeing the silver hidden here, she would naturally understand that Qin Lie didn't want Zhang Erniu to know.

After finishing all this, Qin Lie slung his bag over his shoulder and looked back at the small courtyard where he had only lived for a few days.

Although the courtyard was dilapidated and he lived a meager life, there were still a few people there who genuinely cared for him.

Qin Lie glanced at the kitchen, then at the side room where Liu Yunniang was.

The room was very quiet.

I don't know if Liu Yunniang has woken up or not.

Qin Lie did not go in to say goodbye.

He turned around, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked alone into the morning mist.

Only after Qin Lie's footsteps had completely faded into the distance did Liu Yunniang slowly open her eyes in the side room.

She glanced at the empty seat next to her, then looked down at her clothes.

The clothes were fairly neat.

But after she threw herself into Qin Lie's arms last night, she couldn't remember anything after that.

She only remembered saying those words and that Qin Lie didn't push her away in the end.

Thinking of this, Liu Yunniang's face gradually turned red.

She chuckled softly first.

Then, tears silently streamed down her cheeks.

She couldn't bear to let Qin Lie leave.

But she also knew that Qin Lie had to leave.

Heishan Town is too small.

Dongxuan City is the path he should truly take.