Li Zhuiyuan went up the steps. As soon as he stepped onto the second one, he noticed the steps beneath his feet seemed to come alive and began to undulate.
The few steps in front of him now appeared to stretch endlessly into the distance, a sight that would fill most people wanting to proceed with despair.
However, the young man's steps didn't falter; his pace didn't even slow down a bit.
In his eyes, the steps were still just steps. This minor formation effect could no longer disturb his perception.
He stood on the threshold and casually flipped over the bronze mirror hanging on the doorframe.
Li Zhuiyuan had set up a similar formation in his dorm room when he first started university. His was even more advanced than this one, as he used a more valuable bronze mirror.
Runsheng and Lin Shuyou immediately followed. Runsheng instinctively moved to stand in front of Xiaoyuan, while Lin Shuyou naturally took a position behind him, replacing Brother Bin's usual spot.
Ah You might occasionally have a clear, somewhat whimsical look in his eyes in everyday life, but he had never failed when it mattered.
Inside the temple courtyard, a young monk stood holding a broom.
As Li Zhuiyuan flipped the bronze mirror, the monk attempted to step forward but was preemptively blocked by Runsheng.
The young monk turned and shouted inside:
"Ah, ah, ah..."
He was a mute, and a recently afflicted one.
Li Zhuiyuan could read his lips, and his vocal cord usage still followed his previous habits.
From inside the temple, a small monk emerged. His face was an incomprehensible waxy yellow, as if a drop of yellow liquid might drip from his jaw at any moment.
The small monk held a small ceramic fish tank containing several fish, all floating belly-up and unmistakably dead.
He walked to the incense burner, reached in, grabbed the dead fish one by one, and threw them in.
The dead fish were first coated in incense ash, then gradually charred, emitting a sour odor.
"Guests are welcome. Please come inside for a talk."
An aged voice came from inside the room. Li Zhuiyuan's ears twitched; it was the exact same voice from his dream, without the slightest change.
The young man stepped forward, with Runsheng and Lin Shuyou close behind.
However, the sweeping mute monk actively moved to block the way this time, and the small monk also stepped sideways, confronting Runsheng and Lin Shuyou respectively.
This implied that everyone else had to stay outside, and only Li Zhuiyuan could enter the room alone.
Inside the temple, there was no noticeable aura of a formation, but dangerous arrangements in this world aren't limited to just formations.
Li Zhuiyuan had no interest in facing danger alone.
He had come as a guest, but an unwelcome one. The Tibetan Buddhist high monk's minor trick against him back then was even more serious than child trafficking.
It was only because the other party failed; otherwise, he would have been a puppet in his hands for the rest of his life.
Furthermore, the high monk was wary of Li Lan's identity.
If Li Lan had been an ordinary, normal mother taking her sick son to this high monk for treatment, it was unclear if the illness would have been cured, but her son certainly wouldn't have been saved.
It was one thing not to remember that period of his life, but now that he recalled it, he naturally had to demand an explanation.
"Benefactor, this humble monk has been waiting for you for a long time."
The aged voice reappeared, urging him.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Fight."
Runsheng reached into his bag, pulled out his Yellow River Shovel, and struck the mute monk blocking his path.
The mute monk blocked with his broom but was immediately forced back by the powerful force. Runsheng's Yellow River Shovel also fully extended with this strike.
Without another word, if Xiaoyuan said to fight, Runsheng would fight to kill.
With his Qi Gates open, Runsheng brought the Yellow River Shovel down. The mute monk dodged, narrowly avoiding the strike, but Runsheng was able to forcibly alter the trajectory mid-swing, immediately sweeping the shovel horizontally after the monk.
The mute monk raised his broom to block again. This time, he let out a muffled groan, flew backward, slammed into the courtyard wall, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The challenges encountered during his usual "river walking" were increasingly difficult, now even reaching the level of the Nine Great Secret Realms. Moreover, his opponents in those river battles were contemporary prodigies, none of whom were easy to deal with.
However, in the real world, Runsheng was no longer the young man from Xiting Town who used to retrieve bodies alongside Grandpa Shan.
Lin Shuyou drew his trident from his waist and thrust it directly at the small monk's face.
The small monk retreated swiftly, displaying unusual agility. When he looked up again, oil seeped from his waxy yellow face, black patterns emerged, and dark mist swirled between his teeth as he opened his mouth.
This was a method of "seal and suppress." While spirit mediumship borrows the power of Yin gods, "seal and suppress" involves sealing malevolent spirits or evil entities within one's body, only to unleash their power when needed.
The next moment, the small monk pushed off the ground with his legs and lunged rapidly towards Lin Shuyou.
Lin Shuyou swung his trident, but it was deftly grabbed by the monk's hands in an instant. Seizing the opportunity, the small monk twisted his body in mid-air and delivered a series of kicks to Lin Shuyou's chest.
Ah You turned sideways, avoiding most of the kicks, but was still grazed on the chest by the last one. He immediately clutched his chest and lowered his head, his steps faltering, losing balance and nearly falling.
The small monk's eyes lit up, and he pressed forward again, intending to forcibly tear away Lin Shuyou's trident first, then thrust it into Lin Shuyou's chest.
However, his pleasant thoughts were quickly extinguished.
First, despite using all his strength, he couldn't wrench the trident from his opponent's hands. Then, his opponent lifted his head, vertical pupils forming in his eyes, and a sinister smile playing on his lips.
"Demons and evil spirits, only slain, never redeemed."
The White Crane Child charged forward, grabbed the small monk by the clothes at his chest with his left hand, and then slammed him forcefully to the ground.
"Bang!"
A large amount of yellow liquid seeped from the small monk's body; this was a way to soften his body and dissipate the force. At the same time, he shed his clothes and slid backward, attempting to escape.
The Child threw the trident in his hand, which the opponent cleverly dodged. But then, tridents materialized again in the Child's hands through magic, and he threw them repeatedly!
"Pffft."
"Ah!!!"
No matter how much you dodge, one will eventually strike.
The small monk let out a piercing shriek, sounding like a deranged old woman.
Runsheng and Lin Shuyou had both fiercely beaten back their respective blockers, but Li Zhuiyuan had no intention of entering the room.
No rush.
Kill those two outside first, then the three of them could go in together. That would be more secure.
However, the person inside the room could no longer sit still.
The old monk walked out.
His appearance hadn't changed much from Li Zhuiyuan's memory, but the smoothness of his skin had faded, now showing signs of old age.
Upon seeing Li Zhuiyuan, a thoughtful expression crossed the old monk's eyes, as if he was trying to match the young man with his past memories.
This proved that the other party didn't know he was coming.
But the other party must have sensed a coming crisis in advance.
The recently mute young monk and the newly "soaked" small monk were means prepared to deal with the crisis.
Using highly depleting and irreversible secret methods in advance to boost their strength meant that the mute monk and the small monk still had unrevealed techniques.
But it didn't matter, because Runsheng and Lin Shuyou had only just warmed up. Even if they were currently being suppressed, they would still be suppressed after using those techniques.
The old monk bowed to Li Zhuiyuan: "Since Benefactor is unwilling to come in, this humble monk will come out."
When the old monk emerged, the mute monk and the small monk stopped attacking, indicating an end to the confrontation.
But Li Zhuiyuan didn't speak, so Runsheng and Lin Shuyou didn't stop and continued fighting.
Soon, the mute monk was again sent flying by Runsheng's shovel, spitting blood in mid-air. The small monk first had his arm grazed by Lin Shuyou's trident, then took a kick, sending yellow fluid splashing.
The old monk sat cross-legged. In his hand, a seemingly tough fine thread was wrapped. With a tug of his finger, a painting flew out from inside the temple and landed in his palm. He quickly unfurled it, revealing the image of a five-year-old boy.
The artwork was remarkably detailed and realistic; even the small satchel Li Zhuiyuan carried back then was depicted.
"Benefactor has come for the events of that year. This humble monk will speak frankly and hold nothing back!"
Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand.
Runsheng and Lin Shuyou stopped their actions and each moved to stand beside the young man.
Runsheng's clothes subtly inflated and deflated as he regulated himself. Although his previous exertion was negligible, seizing every opportunity to adjust his state was an instinct developed from his "river walking."
For Lin Shuyou, it was much simpler: his vertical pupils dissipated, allowing the Child to depart directly.
Ever since Li Zhuiyuan invited the White Crane Child into his Southern Daoist Temple, not only did Lin Shuyou's spirit mediumship become easier, but the Child's descent also became more fluid.
Previously, it only followed the Guan Jiang Shou system; now, with a new system added, it was like upgrading a two-lane road to a four-lane highway.
Of course, not everyone could achieve such an effect simply by establishing a branch and moving a temple registry. The White Crane Child statue personally carved by A-Li played a crucial role.
Since the new statue was placed, the Child, when idle, liked to descend into it. At night, "chomping" sounds would often emanate from the room next to the kitchen.
That small room had an altar table, but originally, long wooden boards were nailed to the side walls to allow offerings to be placed beneath each deity's portrait.
Therefore, every morning when Li Sanjiang entered the small room to light incense, the first thing he did was move the Child statue, which had inexplicably wandered to another deity's portrait, back to its original place. Then he would bend down and pick up the two ugly, unidentifiable wooden figures that always fell off the altar.
Because of this, Li Sanjiang had even specifically asked during breakfast who was idly messing around there every day, scattering things. If they wanted toys, he'd pay for them to buy them from Aunt Zhang's convenience store.
To put it plainly, Li Zhuiyuan was using the structure of the Dragon King's domain to build a bridge for the Child, a luxury treatment that no Guan Jiang Shou, whether Yin god or spirit medium, had dared to imagine since its inception.
Seeing the old monk adopt a respectful posture, Li Zhuiyuan sat down.
The young man's peripheral vision caught the old monk's fingertips; the lines on his hands were dense and deep, caused by frequent use of those metal threads.
He was right not to enter the room alone. Heaven knew how many such metal threads were hidden inside; it wasn't worth the risk.
"That year, your mother, Benefactor, asked this humble monk to heal you. Alas, my spiritual cultivation was shallow, and though I tried my best, I still failed."
Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand again, intending to order Runsheng and Lin Shuyou to attack once more.
The old monk's eyes paused, and he immediately spoke again:
"It's because your situation, Benefactor, is special. You have no inner demons to suppress, and you were never truly ill, so how could this humble monk cure you?"
Li Zhuiyuan's hand continued to descend.
The old monk spread his arms: "Wait! This humble monk was overcome by desire, truly appreciating your talent. Benefactor, you are born with pure senses, untouched by worldly defilements, precisely the Spirit Child our Buddhist sect eagerly seeks. When this humble monk saw you, I wished to take you as my disciple, to impart all my life's knowledge, and bring glory to our Buddhist sect!"
Li Zhuiyuan's descending hand clenched into a fist at the last moment.
The old monk let out a long sigh of relief.
He had anticipated that this day might come, but not in this manner. He feared Li Lan's identity; even if his methods from back then had been discovered and pursued, it should have been official pressure. Yet, what he faced now was coercion from the jianghu.
He preferred dealing with the former because they followed rules, while the latter... *were* the rules.
Li Zhuiyuan: "And the Corpse Ghost Soul-Locking Array, was that also out of appreciation for talent?"
The old monk heard this and his face filled with horror. How did the other party know about this?
This was merely a control method he had prepared after intending to help him dissolve his inner demons, but since there were no inner demons to dissolve, it was all futile.
Logically, this was a failed calculation, yet the other party was so clearly aware.
The old monk took a deep breath and said, "Our sect has always had disciplinary measures for Spirit Children, to prevent them from straying while learning Buddhist dharma. This restriction was left to guide them back to the right path.
"This humble monk acted as I did because I immediately recognized you as a Spirit Child, and therefore..."
"So, I should thank you?"
"This humble monk wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare!" The old monk seemed to make a decision. "The mistakes this humble monk committed that day have led to the consequences I face today. Whatever Benefactor wishes, this humble monk will calmly accept!"
"This matter could have been discussed, but now, it's beyond discussion. I gave you a chance, but you didn't value it. Besides, even if I decided not to pursue it, things wouldn't end well for you."
"What does Benefactor mean by that?"
Li Zhuiyuan turned his head to look at the large incense burner, where the smell of roasted fish already permeated the air: "You knew something was happening today, didn't you?"
Raising fish to nurture spirits for divination of good or bad fortune was not uncommon; many folk traditions involved this custom, not just for aesthetic enjoyment.
The old monk's lips quivered a few times, but he finally nodded and said:
"Yes, the temple is small but the winds are fierce. They started howling a few days ago. What should die, died. What should crack, cracked. It's a clear omen of a great catastrophe."
While an occasional anomaly could be vaguely explained, a collective manifestation of omens was undeniable.
Such a major calamity cannot be avoided simply by hiding. The more one hides, the more uncontrollable things become. The most rational approach is to actively face it, which is also the traditional stance of various Buddhist sects towards calamities.
Li Zhuiyuan: "You didn't foresee that I would be your great calamity."
The old monk's face grew bitter: "Indeed, this humble monk... my spiritual cultivation is shallow."
Li Zhuiyuan: "You were deceived."
The old monk: "What..."
Li Zhuiyuan spread his left hand, and a wisp of karmic fire materialized, pushing forward.
The black karmic fire clung to the painting. Although the old monk couldn't see it, he could sense that the painting had been touched by something terrifying and immediately let it go, allowing it to fall.
As the karmic fire burned, cracks appeared on the painting, until it looked as if someone had frantically scratched it with a knife.
The old monk's eyes widened in disbelief.
This meant that the calamity had a clear target all along, but the painting had been tampered with to conceal it.
Li Zhuiyuan: "You're old, that's clear, but your voice hasn't changed. That's a flaw. Just like appearance, a person's voice also changes with age."
The old monk's body began to tremble.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Also, you speak too elegantly. People lose some learning ability and become too lazy to change once they reach a certain age. The old you used to like quoting 'as you Central Plains people say.' Now look at you... how well your language habits have integrated. Could it be that you've been too lazy to do anything else all these years, focusing solely on Chinese language lessons?"
The old monk looked at Li Zhuiyuan with some despair.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Someone who could set up a Corpse Ghost Soul-Locking Array back then can't even comprehend this bit of divination now. When you came out and saw me, your first reaction was that I looked familiar, as if you'd seen me somewhere before. You were *thinking* of things, not searching your memories."
The old monk's figure slumped dejectedly, and he confessed:
"Over the years, my Master has pointed to this painting countless times, saying that failing to take this Spirit Child as a disciple was the greatest regret of his life.
"If not for your mother's special status, Master would not have dared to act rashly. Otherwise, you would have been my junior brother, you would have called me Senior Brother, and I would have pampered and protected you without reservation. Master would surely have done the same."
Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "I don't see that kind of atmosphere here."
The old monk: "It's true."
Li Zhuiyuan pointed at the old monk sitting before him: "Your Master hid himself and made you disguise yourself as him to take his calamity. Is that what you call a Master's compassion?"
Li Zhuiyuan then pointed at the mute monk and the small monk: "As a senior brother, knowing you were pushed out by your Master to face the calamity, you muted one junior brother and 'soaked' the other. Is that what you call a senior brother's indulgence?"
The old monk's mouth hung open, cold sweat trickling down his face.
Li Zhuiyuan: "You merely discovered, after interacting with me, that my intent to kill wasn't so strong, which is why you tried to climb the ladder, bringing my mother into it while also playing the emotional card.
"Don't act in front of me; you're not good at it.
"In fact, ever since I entered, the overwhelming desire for survival I felt from you was the biggest flaw in your pretense of being your Master."
The old monk: "I want to live, truly. I just want to live. I don't believe I've done anything wrong!"
Li Zhuiyuan: "I came here for an explanation. As you perceived, my intent to kill isn't that strong. But from the looks of it now, even without my intervention, you won't survive."
The old monk: "No, as long as you would be so gracious as to..."
Before he could finish speaking, his body stiffened. Immediately afterward, his eyes began to redden, and his expression twisted, as if undergoing some transformation.
He had been placed under a restriction beforehand, and it was now about to activate.
Li Zhuiyuan immediately stood up, flicked his left hand down, and his copper coin sword appeared in his grip. He swung it directly at the monk's glabella.
"Thwack!"
In an instant, white smoke rose, and the old monk's facial skin began to peel away, revealing the image of a middle-aged man.
The redness in his eyes dissipated due to the copper coin sword, and his twisted face gradually regained its calm.
"I never thought Master could be so ruthless. Thank you for being willing to save me..."
"I didn't intend to save you, nor can I. What your Master planted in you cannot be undone; you will surely die."
As if to verify his words, Li Zhuiyuan moved the copper coin sword from his forehead.
"Ah!!!"
His eyes were once again covered in red, his face twisted even more, and his limbs continuously inflated as if being pumped full of air, similar to when Tan Wenbin used his ghost-controlling technique.
But Tan Wenbin's ghost-controlling technique was controllable. Even if Binbin couldn't control his two 'god-sons,' they wouldn't swell their 'god-father' to death.
This person, however, was deliberately headed towards being uncontrollable, either descending into madness or exploding.
Li Zhuiyuan: "See, wasn't I right? Your Master never intended for you... for any of you to live."
The mute monk's body twitched. His aura became increasingly fierce, and his eyes filled with red, losing his own thoughts.
The small monk's face simply melted away, revealing the aged face of an old hag, emitting a piercing shriek and showing a craving for blood and flesh.
The old monk from back then was in a small subordinate unit where many dharma artifacts were kept as relics, but that unit had long since been de-registered.
Therefore, it would have been quite difficult to find them originally.
The number Li Zhuiyuan had always wanted to call was Li Lan's office phone; Li Lan should have been able to locate him.
But this matter became simple due to Grandpa's involvement, as Grandpa had been tormented by those zombies in his dreams for a long time.
Li Zhuiyuan felt this was probably a counterattack from Grandpa's own fortune. Winning a lottery ticket again, scratching out a luxury trip to the capital, was a result of that good fortune.
This also aligned with why Granny Liu and others were so careful when they stayed at Grandpa's house, and it explained why Uncle Qin didn't help with the soy sauce bottle back then.
When Grandpa's fortune began to retaliate... those around him would naturally be used as tools.
Li Zhuiyuan not only didn't dislike this feeling but rather enjoyed its clear and straightforward guidance.
But precisely because it was too direct and clear, the old Tibetan Buddhist monk sensed it in advance.
His move was indeed ruthless: sacrificing the lives of three disciples to sever this karmic connection.
Setting aside positions and ethics, Li Zhuiyuan actually admired this method because it was effective. Once this matter was resolved, with the deaths, the debts were cleared, and Grandpa's fortune would lose its target for retaliation.
Li Zhuiyuan: "Deal with them."
If he hadn't come tonight, these three in the temple would have gone mad and caused harm. Since he was here, he definitely had to deal with them.
Runsheng and Lin Shuyou both began to act.
Li Zhuiyuan again pressed the copper coin sword against the forehead of the middle-aged monk in front of him. With his right hand, he gathered a blood mist and slapped the sword's blade, directly imprinting patterns onto it. The copper coin sword, like an electric soldering iron, began fiercely eroding the malevolent aura rising from the monk's body.
"Ah!!!"
If he had been further away or if the opponent's transformation had completed, Li Zhuiyuan might have had some trouble dealing with him. But now, with the person right in front of him and with him having the first move, close-combat issues were non-existent, and dealing with him was simple.
The copper coin sword sliced downward, from his glabella to his chest, creating a line of blood. As malevolent aura gushed out, it carried with it a large amount of vital essence and blood.
Li Zhuiyuan took out the Nameless Book, turned to that page, and smeared the vital essence and blood onto it.
Since it was already spilling, no need to waste it.
This wasn't a transaction, because whatever was absorbed today would double the deduction amount tomorrow. No matter how much was consumed, it would all be extracted eventually, only serving to satisfy a momentary craving.
"Tell me where your Master went, and I'll give you a quick death."
"High plateau... Mountain Sect."
Li Zhuiyuan nodded, then swept the copper coin sword horizontally, severing his head.
The copper coin sword wasn't sharpened, but it became exceptionally keen upon contact with malevolent entities.
This alone showed how formidable Zhao Family's Dragon King was back then. Zhao Yi's delicate, willowy style indeed dishonored his ancestors.
Root-like growths emerged from the mute monk's throat, and vines appeared beneath the skin of his limbs. His physical strength was further enhanced as he roared and lunged at Runsheng.
Runsheng didn't hold back. Fifteen of his sixteen Qi Gates opened at once. After first kicking the opponent away, he lunged, bringing his Yellow River Shovel down hard, smashing its head.
The maddened creature's strength had increased, but it had also lost its original consciousness. If one was strong enough, they would find him easier to handle now.
But even after losing its head, it was still twitching, and the root-like growths continued to spread outwards.
Runsheng stepped on it, raised his shovel and smashed it down again, then bent over and pulled out the root.
The root quickly wrapped around Runsheng's palm, trying to find an entry point into his body. Runsheng opened his mouth, bit off a section, and began to chew.
"Crunch! Crunch!"
It was crunchy and refreshing, like sweet sugarcane.
On the other side, the White Crane Child finished quickly as well.
The opponent was a leaked "seal and suppress," essentially a powerful ghost possession. For dealing with such entities, Guan Jiang Shou was indeed perfectly suited, as what these creatures demonstrated now were merely remnants of what they had perfected in the past.
The old hag initially tried to attack proactively, but after continuous severe blows, she began to attempt escape. To this end, she even intentionally spat out a yellow mist, intending to create a "ghost wall" to trap the Child.
The Child was almost amused to the point of laughter. Designing a "ghost wall" for Him, who was a guiding child spirit?
Under the gaze of His vertical pupils, the old hag had nowhere to hide. The Child held His left hand to His lips and chanted a spell, causing the old hag to clutch her head and spin in place.
Then, while maintaining the chanting posture with His left hand, the Child walked towards her with the trident in His right hand. He thrust the trident into her head, then twisted it.
The old hag instantly dissolved into a puddle of yellow pus, and on the trident remained a piece that looked like Solomon's Seal (Huang Jing).
The Child turned His head, seeing Runsheng eating heartily, and simply opened His own mouth, like eating barbecue, and bit into this "Huang Jing."
Malevolent aura and ghostly energy were condensed within it, which had a nourishing effect on soul bodies. However, ordinary people couldn't eat it at all, or even touch it. Lin Shuyou, though, had absorbed a considerable amount of the Child's divine power during his last river walking, so he wasn't among those affected.
What surprised the Child was that this thing was truly terrible for humans to eat, yet when He consumed it, His spirit medium didn't transmit much nausea or repulsion to Him.
The Child was pleased, thinking Lin Shuyou had matured.
In reality, it was because Ah You had recently endured the "baptism" of douzhi (fermented mung bean milk).
With douzhi as a precedent, this stuff wasn't nearly as difficult to swallow.
At this moment, from the broken neck of the middle-aged monk, a black, pebble-sized object, resembling a century egg, squeezed out.
After landing, it began to glow, and a gaze seemed to emanate from within.
Li Zhuiyuan knew this was the Tibetan Buddhist high monk's hidden contingency within his disciple, allowing him to "witness and observe" in this manner.
The century egg began to roll, entering the temple room. Li Zhuiyuan followed it inside.
Runsheng and Lin Shuyou quickly followed, eating as they went. When they met at the temple entrance, they both paused in surprise.
Runsheng offered the root to the Child, who shook his head.
He couldn't taste this stuff; one bite and His spirit medium would have to be hospitalized.
The Child handed the remaining half of the "Huang Jing" to Runsheng, who wasn't particular about what he ate. Runsheng lowered his head and took a large bite.
Chewing, swallowing, frowning. The thing was tasteless, and swallowing it made him feel nauseous.
Runsheng: "Doesn't taste good."
The Child threw the remaining "Huang Jing" into His mouth, thinking, *You, who can't even perform Yin-walking, why would you need to nourish your soul body?*
Beneath the Buddha statue inside the temple room was a tray full of water. The century egg rolled into it and began to dissolve, transforming into a face. It started to speak, but no sound came out. However, Li Zhuiyuan could understand what it was saying, and it was very excited:
"Inner demon... inner demon... I just saw an inner demon in you... Come find me... come to the plateau and find me... I can help you control and eradicate your inner demon..."
Eradicate inner demons?
Li Zhuiyuan nodded and said:
"Don't worry, I'll definitely come find you later."
After speaking, he thrust his copper coin sword into the tray. The murky liquid inside immediately boiled, and the tray exploded.
Tonight, Li Zhuiyuan had come for an explanation, but the "explanation" given by the old monk left the young man very dissatisfied.
Li Zhuiyuan said to Runsheng and the White Crane Child beside him: "Alright, clean this place up."
Runsheng: "Mhm."
White Crane Child: "Mhm!"
After "Mhm-ing," the White Crane Child immediately ended its spirit medium state, its vertical pupils vanished, and it ran off.
The starry night shimmered.
Temples were carved into a towering cliff face.
Inside one of the temples, three monks were seated.
"Lobsang, why are you so happy?"
"Why even ask? Lobsang's calamity must have been averted."
Lobsang shook his head: "This is something that makes me happier than averting a calamity. Do you remember, I told you I once encountered a Spirit Child."
"Yes, you've mentioned it several times."
"What, is this calamity related to that Spirit Child?"
Lobsang: "This calamity is him, but I no longer consider it a calamity. Instead, it's a guidance from Buddha. My Spirit Child has not only emerged from his mother's protection but has also developed an inner demon."
The other two monks' eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Lobsang: "He's like a mature egg, already peeled, that has voluntarily jumped onto my plate. I have a premonition that our Mountain Sect will greatly flourish because of him!"
"Lobsang, do you have his birth astrological data?"
"Yes, Lobsang, quickly give it to us. Let's perform a divination together."
"Of course I do. After all, his mother asked me to heal him back then. Here it is. The three of us will perform the divination together, first determining his fate and fortune, then discussing the time to descend the mountain and bring the Spirit Child back to the sect."
The three monks each held a dharma artifact and began their divination.
"His destiny is highly favorable; the Spirit Child's foundational fate is extremely high."
"Protected by wind and rain, he is a person with great wisdom and spiritual roots."
Lobsang: "Of course. However, this is merely the surface of the Spirit Child. What truly astonishes me and stays in my mind is that he was born with pure senses. We dedicate our lives to seeking the 'empty gate' yet never truly enter, but he was born already within it."
The three monks smiled and continued their divination.
As they divined, the three monks' expressions suddenly froze in unison.
"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!"
Each of the three monks spat out a mouthful of blood, their auras weakened, and they swayed unsteadily.
"I saw two, two terrifying... Lobsang, what kind of Spirit Child is this? Whose Spirit Child is this?!"
"I saw rivers spanning the sky, descending and washing everything away. Calamity, calamity, Lobsang, you have brought disaster upon our sect!"
Lobsang's expression was the most terrified. His mouth hung open, his eyes hollow, and he mumbled:
"Impossible, this is impossible, he's just a child..."
The next day's itinerary was climbing the Great Wall.
Li Sanjiang was robust and walked a long stretch, his rough hands patting countless battlements.
Although Tan Wenbin wasn't here, there were still people in the scenic area who helped tourists take photos, but... the prices were quite high.
However, for once, Li Sanjiang didn't complain about the kids wasting money; he took many photos.
Young people who like a place can think about visiting again someday.
But for elderly people, many places visited are likely the last time in their lives. If a health issue arises, even traveling far might become difficult.
After returning from the Great Wall, they all went to Nanmen (South Gate) to eat instant-boiled mutton.
Xue Liangliang's exchange meeting had already begun, primarily for the newly selected students. They didn't need to attend the entire event, only to give an experience-sharing report tomorrow.
Li Zhuiyuan didn't plan to go himself; he sent Lin Shuyou.
As soon as he heard he had to give a report in front of so many people, Lin Shuyou's toes began to curl into the ground.
Li Zhuiyuan didn't send him empty-handed. Instead, in their hotel room, he took paper and a pen and began writing a speech for him.
The speech primarily focused on a professional perspective, combining theory with practice, to discuss how to avoid and handle certain unusual "accidents" encountered during construction.
It couldn't be too explicit, as that would involve feudal superstition, but it also couldn't be too superficial. After all, even someone like Engineer Luo would "chat" with "mountain gods" and "river gods," which was necessary for their work. Furthermore, future visits to Goguryeo tombs were unlikely to be entirely peaceful.
Before long, a substantial speech was written. Li Zhuiyuan handed it to Lin Shuyou, instructing him to simply read from it the next day.
Just then, Runsheng opened the door, came in, and pointed next door: "Xiaoyuan, there's a smell of blood in Grandpa Li's room next door."
Li Zhuiyuan immediately ran to the next room and found Grandpa standing by the sink, head tilted back, nosebleed gushing out "gurgle-gurgle."
He helped Grandpa plug his nostrils with paper, but the nosebleed quickly seeped through again, gushing so profusely it seemed unstoppable.
It took a long time and much effort before it finally stopped.
"Hoo..."
Li Sanjiang lay on the bed, panting continuously.
"Grandpa, didn't you drink the tea I brewed for you earlier?"
"Xiaoyuan Hou, you know, your grandpa here isn't quite used to drinking tea leaves."
At home on weekdays, Grandpa mostly drank tea made from orange peels or agastache leaves, rarely actual tea.
"You have to drink it. You need to pay attention to hydration, otherwise, you'll get another nosebleed."
Due to climatic differences between north and south, the northern climate was drier. Having visited many attractions and eaten instant-boiled mutton in recent days, his nosebleed had suddenly come on strong.
"Alright, got it. I'll drink it. At most, I'll just pee a few more times."
The next morning, at Li Zhuiyuan's insistence, he was taken to the hospital for a check-up.
On the way, Li Sanjiang continuously grumbled under his breath: "Just a nosebleed, why do we need to go to the hospital?"
Li Zhuiyuan: "Since we've come all the way to the capital, it'd be a shame not to visit a hospital. You can tell everyone back home about it."
Upon hearing this, Li Sanjiang immediately stopped complaining.
Runsheng: "I also want to bring my grandpa to the capital for a check-up someday."
Hearing this, Li Sanjiang immediately straightened his back even further.
After entering the hospital, it wasn't just a simple nose check, of course. Li Zhuiyuan arranged a comprehensive examination.
The examination results surprised even the doctors, especially after seeing the old man's age on his medical record. Some doctors even began asking Li Sanjiang for his health secrets.
Some test results would take a while to come out. Li Zhuiyuan asked Runsheng to accompany Li Sanjiang to sit outside for a bit, while he stayed to wait.
Behind this hospital was a high-level sanatorium.
Li Sanjiang sat on the bench, sniffed, and said, "Hey, Runsheng Hou, isn't that where they sell roasted sweet potatoes?"
"Yes." Runsheng stood on tiptoe to look. There was indeed a person pushing a gasoline drum on the roadside.
"Go buy me two to try."
"Alright."
Runsheng went to buy roasted sweet potatoes.
Li Sanjiang placed his hands on his knees, gently rubbing them while curiously observing his surroundings.
"It really is bigger than our town's clinic. Look, it's decorated like a garden."
"Elder brother?"
A voice came from behind him.
Li Sanjiang turned his head and saw who it was. Hey, it was the same person he had smoked with at Shichahai two days ago.
"Hey, younger brother!"
Li Sanjiang said, rummaging through his pocket and handing the lighter to the other person: "My apologies, I only realized I'd taken your lighter when I got back."
The old man smiled and pushed it back: "Keep it. My wife at home doesn't allow me to smoke."
Li Sanjiang nodded: "Right, smoking is bad for health."
As he spoke, he took out a cigarette pack, pulled out two, and lit one for each of them.
"Elder brother, what are you doing here?"
"Sigh, it's my great-grandson. I just had a nosebleed, and he insisted on dragging me to the hospital for a check-up. I really couldn't refuse him, so I had to come. For such a small matter, do we really need to come all the way here? Treatment at big hospitals here is so expensive!"
"Your child cares about you, he's filial."
"That's true." Li Sanjiang got the answer he wanted and contentedly puffed out a smoke ring.
"My follow-up results came out yesterday."
"How are they?"
"Very good. The surgery results are even better than the doctors expected."
"That's great."
"Elder brother, would you like to come to my place? We could have some tea and chat this afternoon. I live right there."
Li Sanjiang looked in the direction the other person pointed and smiled: "In our countryside, we don't have the custom of visiting empty-handed, younger brother. Next time, next time."
"I've already smoked your cigarettes twice, elder brother. You must let me treat you to a cup of tea."
"It's really not convenient. I have to go back with my great-grandson soon, and we're planning to visit the Military Museum this afternoon."
"I can go with you. I can be your guide."
"No need, my great-grandson knows it very well. He explains everything better than a professional guide."
"He certainly doesn't know it as well as I do."
Just then, Li Zhuiyuan walked out, holding the report sheet.
Li Sanjiang immediately waved: "Xiaoyuan Hou, your Grandpa is here! Xiaoyuan Hou!"
Then, Li Sanjiang said to the elder beside him: "Look, this is my great-grandson. Don't let his age fool you, he's already a university student. He was even the top scorer in the province for the college entrance exam!
"Isn't my great-grandson handsome? I wasn't lying to you that day, was I, younger brother?"
"Yes, uncle."
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