Chapter 268

"Eunuch bastard..."Zhao Yi hung up the phone. He hadn't expected Li to be living with the old lady, but now that he knew, it seemed perfectly logical. The old lady's family was small, and given Li's astonishing talent, it was natural for her to dote on him like a grandson. If Zhao Yi were Li's elder, he'd cherish such a brilliant child too.However, Tan Wenbin was now digging a hole for him, and a deep one at that, forcing Zhao Yi to reconsider his approach to Tan Wenbin. After all, ancient literati officials, besides being irreconcilable with eunuchs, had another option: befriending them and joining the eunuch faction.

Behind Zhao Yi, Liang Yan and Liang Li each carried a large backpack and held a sizable travel bag in their hands. The fashionable and beautiful sisters, laden with so much luggage, presented a striking contrast that drew constant gazes from passersby. People would first look at the sisters standing with their burdens, then turn to Zhao Yi, whose hands were empty and tucked into his pockets.Old Man Tian sat in his wheelchair, a blanket over his knees, rolling tobacco in his hands. Since his injury and paralysis, neuropathic pain had been a constant torment, and he had grown accustomed to self-medicating with anesthetics periodically. While it didn't matter when he smoked at home, outside, he had to exhale every puff into a water pipe to avoid affecting those around him.

Zhao Yi reminded the sisters, "Someone will pick us up later. Once we arrive, both of you need to behave yourselves and especially keep your gaze lowered."Liang Yan said, "We can avoid looking at anyone."Liang Li added, "We can also stay silent."Zhao Yi smiled faintly, pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, and unfolded it before them. "If you disregard your family's survival, feel free to show your displeasure. I've already prepared the annulment papers and can sever ties with you at any time.""Useless man," Liang Yan scoffed.Liang Li chimed in, "Would marrying you even provide security?""The premise of protecting you is that you must have a brain," Zhao Yi retorted. "If you don't have a brain, that's fine too, but you must know how to obey.""Young Master, is it that serious?" Old Man Tian asked."Li is living with the old lady," Zhao Yi replied.The freshly rolled cigarette in Old Man Tian's hand dropped to the ground.

Zhao Yi explained, "Li is 'walking the river,' and yet he lives there without fear of karmic entanglement. This means the old lady is also 'white dragon in fish clothes,' living like an ordinary person. People acting ordinary is a performance; we absolutely cannot take it at face value. At a time like this, the biggest taboo is for outsiders to be presumptuous and overstep their bounds.""We understand," Liang Yan said."We'll be good," Liang Li added.Zhao Yi nodded and walked to a nearby bookstore, picking up a copy of the *Yangtze Evening Post*. With the college and high school entrance exams approaching, bookstores had set out various study guides. As Zhao Yi turned a page of the newspaper, his peripheral vision caught sight of a book beneath him. No, to be precise, there were many books, all from the same brand, in various colors. His gaze shifted, and he noticed that this brand's study materials occupied the most prominent and best spot on the bookstall.*The Provincial College Entrance Exam Top Scorer's Success Secrets!**The Ladder to College Entrance Exam Success!**Lucky Bookmark Collector's Special Edition.*The marketing copy varied, but the brand was consistent: *Zhuiyuan Secret Scrolls*."What was Li's full name again?" Zhao Yi's first thought was that it was a namesake, but he picked up a copy, and on the preface of the first page, there was a photo of Li. It wasn't a posed photo, but rather like a high school group ID photo; the clarity wasn't high, but it was enough to confirm his identity."You actually have such leisure time?"Looking further down the preface, it was written in the first person, describing the astounding progress a struggling student made after studying with Li Zhuiyuan and mastering his learning methods, ultimately succeeding in getting into their desired university. The preface was signed "Tan Wenbin."Zhao Yi chuckled. Li was certainly too lazy to bother with such things; this kind of income-generating work naturally fell to the internal affairs department. He took one book, paid for it, unsealed it, and opened it to pull out a talisman bookmark from inside. Li might have drawn the talismans himself in the past, but with increased sales, they were now printed.

A pickup truck pulled up, and Tan Wenbin rolled down the window, waving. "Young Master Zhao, get in.""Didn't you see all the gifts I brought? You didn't even bother to help with the luggage.""You brought gifts because we have something your Zhao family wants even more. Whoever takes the initiative to go to the other proves who's getting the better deal."Zhao Yi gave a look, and the Liang sisters tossed all the luggage into the pickup, along with Old Man Tian in his wheelchair. Then, the sisters also climbed into the back. Zhao Yi opened the passenger door and got in by himself.Tan Wenbin, turning the car around, grumbled, "Why did you choose this spot to meet? This is one of the busiest places in Nantong for both people and traffic.""I didn't realize you lived so remotely," Zhao Yi replied."Is your Zhao family ancestral home located in the city center then?" Tan Wenbin shot back."You guessed right," Zhao Yi said."A great recluse hidden in the city?" Tan Wenbin mused.Zhao Yi shook his head. "When our ancestors chose the site for the family estate, they never expected that godforsaken place to undergo development. Later, there was no choice but to divide the original old house, set up restrictions and formations, and hide it within the city. The main lineage of the family now resides in a newly built manor in the suburbs.""The treasury is also in the city?" Tan Wenbin asked."If the formations and restrictions there were to be breached, it could easily implicate innocent people," Zhao Yi replied."Your Zhao family truly causes trouble," Tan Wenbin scoffed. "If it's ever robbed and causes disaster, it'll be your fault for not having proper fire and security measures.""Have some shame," Zhao Yi muttered."Where's that kid Chen Jing?" Tan Wenbin asked."He's at home, stimulating his bloodline with a blood bath. Sun Yan and Xu Ming are watching him. Aren't you planning to move against the Lu family? The Liang sisters I brought are more than enough for that."Tan Wenbin nodded, having witnessed the Liang sisters' strength. For a family annihilation, sufficient force was enough to push through. Even if they didn't completely wipe them out and some escaped... the Chen family, who had been oppressed for so long, would be responsible for hunting them down.

"Are there any fun places in Nantong?" Zhao Yi asked. "It's my first time here; be my guide.""Being a guide in Nantong is like opening a bathhouse in the Sahara Desert," Tan Wenbin replied."Surely there are local specialties?" Zhao Yi pressed."You can take a few sets of study guides back," Tan Wenbin suggested. "Give them to any junior family members who lack cultivation talent.""How did you end up being born in such a boring place?" Zhao Yi wondered."You talk as if I had a choice in where I was reincarnated," Tan Wenbin countered."As long as you have advanced methods and are willing to pay a sufficient price, you really can choose," Zhao Yi asserted."That has nothing to do with me then," Tan Wenbin said."Actually, there's another reason I didn't bring Chen Jing," Zhao Yi admitted. "I was afraid he wouldn't be able to get in.""Not that serious," Tan Wenbin dismissed. "Just a matter of saying hello.""The rules in this Nantong area weren't established by the old lady, were they?" Zhao Yi asked."No," Tan Wenbin confirmed."Introduce me to them?" Zhao Yi requested."Absolutely," Tan Wenbin said."How deep is this pit?" Zhao Yi inquired, referring to the potential trouble."To be honest with you," Tan Wenbin sighed, "that person can only really connect with Little Yuan.""I'm not much different," Zhao Yi scoffed."It's not the same," Tan Wenbin insisted. "This is harder than choosing your reincarnation."

The car entered Shinan Town and slowed down. Zhao Yi stretched his hand out the window and waved, signaling his subordinates that they could now be less conspicuous. They turned onto a village road, then a smaller path, and at the end was Li Sanjiang's house."We can stop here," Zhao Yi said. Driving directly up to the courtyard would be too stimulating; Young Master Zhao wanted to compose himself first.Tan Wenbin understood and parked the car. After everyone got out, they began to unload the luggage. Old Man Tian pushed his wheelchair along the small path, making a small circle, and uttered a rather obvious comment: "Real countryside?" The herb garden he currently resided in felt like a celestial realm compared to this place.The Liang sisters, carrying their items, looked at Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi was focused on deep breathing. Just as he composed himself and prepared to go forward, Uncle Qin appeared in the field opposite. Uncle Qin stood there, hoe over his shoulder, drinking water.Zhao Yi looked at Uncle Qin, his expression freezing. Fear showed in his eyes, but it quickly receded, replaced by gratitude. While the scene of the "three cuts and six holes" from back then was still vivid in his memory, Zhao Yi knew clearly that if this man hadn't spared him, he would have died long ago. After 'walking the river' for so long and experiencing near-fatal injuries countless times, he understood that as long as he kept his life, nothing else mattered.Zhao Yi bowed to Uncle Qin with utmost respect. Uncle Qin raised the large teacup in his hand forward, acknowledging the greeting. Old Man Tian, seated in his wheelchair, lowered his head and performed the Zhao family's external gate salute with his hands. The Liang sisters also put down their luggage, but just as they prepared to bow, Uncle Qin turned and resumed hoeing.

Zhao Yi went to pick out gifts, re-wrapped them, and then said, "You all stay here; I'll go in alone." Uncle Qin's meaning was clear: if a martial arts practitioner was visiting, the principal person should go in alone, and their guards should naturally remain outside.Tan Wenbin led the way, with Zhao Yi following behind. As they neared the courtyard, they saw a plainly dressed woman casually sitting on the courtyard railing, cracking sunflower seeds. The woman, with a smile in her eyes, observed the approaching "stranger."Zhao Yi set down the gifts and bowed again. Although he had never met her, he could guess who she was. The Qin and Liu families had declined, but they weren't entirely without people. For a long time, the only semblance of the Dragon King's lineage was maintained by two "house-born" individuals personally raised by the old lady. These two rarely appeared in the martial arts world, but every time they did, they caused a significant stir.This time, as Zhao Yi bowed, his mouth twitched slightly. He knew that if Uncle Qin hadn't been at the apology banquet that night, and this woman had been there instead, he would have had no chance of survival.Aunt Liu asked, "Want some sunflower seeds?"Zhao Yi shook his head apologetically. "I've been feeling under the weather lately, so my mouth is sore."Aunt Liu yawned and shifted her gaze away, no longer looking at him. Zhao Yi followed Tan Wenbin into the courtyard.

In the hall, Yin Meng was painting a coffin, while Chen Lin happened to walk out of the utility room with a can of freshly mixed paint. As she approached the house, she saw Zhao Yi, who had just stepped into the courtyard. Chen Lin's expression immediately tightened, her body trembled, and her hands went slack, causing the can to drop and paint to splatter everywhere. At that moment, Chen Lin couldn't care less about the mess; her lips merely trembled uncontrollably. "Zhao... Zhao..."Zhao Yi looked at the woman before him, a thoughtful expression on his face. He didn't recall having any previous interaction with her. Tan Wenbin raised his arm and lightly nudged Zhao Yi, teasing, "What's wrong? Did you bully her? You might get hit."Lin Shuyou was still a novice when it came to romance, still naive about feelings. Even when Chen Lin actively showed concern and closeness, he hesitated, unsure how to respond. But if Zhao Yi had ever bullied Chen Lin... well, given Lin Shuyou's opinion of Zhao Yi, any excuse would make him happy to beat Zhao Yi up."You all know what I used to look like," Zhao Yi said. "It was pretty much like you, Tan, when you were in a wheelchair recently. In that state, would I have the energy to bully a young girl?""There are many ways to bully," Tan Wenbin replied. "Those without normal abilities might even be more twisted.""You understand that best, Chief Tan," Zhao Yi retorted.Chen Lin took a deep breath, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said with a trembling voice, "Greetings, Young Master Zhao.""Your surname is Chen?" Zhao Yi asked.Chen Lin nodded, not daring to meet Zhao Yi's gaze."Oh, I remember now," Zhao Yi mused. "When I was looking for a solution for the 'life-and-death seam' on my forehead, Old Man Tian carried me to many places searching for methods, probably including an Onmyoji."The first time Li Zhuiyuan and others encountered Zhao Yi, it was because the Zhao family of Jiujiang heard that a branch family had developed a new spell usage that could circumvent karmic backlash. Zhao Yi went to investigate, only to find that they were using a shoddy transfer method. Sensing the crisis facing the Shizhuo Zhao branch, he simply slipped away. The main reason for visiting a branch family like Shizhuo Zhao was that there was no concern about them being hostile. Thus, on that day, only Old Man Tian accompanied him. When he visited other families to "seek guidance," the entourage would undoubtedly be much larger. After all, in the eyes of the true Dragon King families, the Jiujiang Zhao family was nothing, even somewhat laughable like nouveau riche. Yet, looking across the entire martial world, the Jiujiang Zhao family was a true titan.Chen Lin had seen Zhao Yi that day. He had visited directly to demand a look at their cultivation methods, his demeanor overbearing. Her father and other elders dared not resist or act presumptuously in front of this sickly young man. After the young man acquired and reviewed the cultivation method, he shook his head, sighed, and showed clear disappointment. When he left, all the family elders saw him off, and only after he was out of sight did they all breathe a sigh of relief.Chen Lin remembered her brother clenching his fists at the time, his eyes not showing anger at being humiliated and ignored, but rather a deep longing: "Sister, this is the Dragon King's family." It could be said that the seed of her brother's determination to light lanterns and wander the martial world was sown by that Young Master Zhao.Now, Chen Lin hadn't expected to see Young Master Zhao again, here of all places. Young Master Zhao was no longer sickly; it was as if the mysterious 'life-and-death seam' issue had been cured. He had no guards or attendants with him, just himself alone. And... he was carrying a lot of gifts in both hands. Even though Chen Lin had imagined this place to be extremely unreal, reality told her that her imagination was still too limited.

"Linlin, where's the paint? Oh, it's all spilled?" Yin Meng said, her sleeves rolled up, a brush in hand, as she came out."Mengmeng, busy, are we?" Zhao Yi greeted."Young Master Zhao, you're here," Yin Meng said, her gaze immediately falling on the bags Zhao Yi was carrying. She asked directly, "Is there something for me?""Yes, for everyone, actually," Zhao Yi replied. "I could forget anyone, but never you."Yin Meng was supposed to be the most inconspicuous member of Li's team, yet this very inconspicuous person had collaborated with Tan Wenbin to dig the biggest hole for him. He had willingly jumped into it knowing it was a trap, but he truly hadn't expected the pit to be so deep. That's why Zhao Yi felt that Lin Shuyou was the only good person in Li's team.Yin Meng noticed Chen Lin's apprehension and asked in confusion, "What, you know him too?"Chen Lin nodded. "It's Young Master Zhao."Yin Meng said with a half-smile, "Did you bully her?""Just a brief encounter." Zhao Yi then frowned. "Someone's interested in her, aren't they?" He first looked at Tan Wenbin, but he had a childhood sweetheart, so it couldn't be him. If it were Run Sheng, Yin Meng wouldn't have this expression. Li was even less likely; not only was he too young to like older women, but even if the old lady was open-minded and valued him, she wouldn't let him take a maidservant now, would she? After eliminating everyone else, only one answer remained.Zhao Yi immediately broke into a benevolent smile and said to Chen Lin, "Oh, is it my sister-in-law?"Chen Lin trembled, startled by the sudden change in his tone."How do you know our internal affairs so well?" Tan Wenbin asked."Don't you remember?" Zhao Yi replied. "Besides observing expressions, I can also 'read hearts'."In truth, Lin Shuyou had told him all these private matters. Back in Lijiang, he was either carried by Lin Shuyou or shared a sleeping bag with him. The journey was so boring that he wanted to hear gossip, especially about relationships. Lin Shuyou had principles and wouldn't reveal others' romantic affairs, but Zhao Yi used the threat, "You wouldn't want that matter to get out, would you?"Yin Meng put an arm around Chen Lin's shoulder, shook her gently, and comforted her, "It's okay, he wouldn't dare bite anyone here.""Heh," Zhao Yi scoffed.During her few days here, Chen Lin hadn't managed to win over Lin Shuyou, but she had won over Yin Meng. Who wouldn't want a loyal, considerate companion who could not only lend a hand but also constantly provide emotional support... and even cook excellent Sichuan cuisine? Liu Yumei had long noticed this and sighed, lamenting the decline of the Yin family, which could produce such a naive girl. If she were thrown into a grand manor, she probably wouldn't even know how she was being exploited. Someone could put in just a little effort and comfortably manipulate her. It was also fortunate that Run Sheng had a strong preference, and that girl (Yin Meng) was fond of Lin Shuyou, otherwise Yin Meng might truly have had her nest usurped and even helped prepare her own dowry.

Run Sheng and Lin Shuyou happened to be returning from a delivery, each pulling a flatbed cart, when they encountered the Liang sisters and Old Man Tian waiting outside."Did you bring the seeds?" Run Sheng asked Old Man Tian.Old Man Tian chuckled. "I brought a lot. I'll need your help planting them then, as you can see, I'm quite inconvenient right now.""Zhao Yi said that back home, you're responsible for both planting and making medicine," Run Sheng remarked.Old Man Tian laughed awkwardly. "Ah... hehe.""You look down on this place," Run Sheng stated.Old Man Tian was so startled by this remark that he nearly jumped out of his wheelchair. "I meant that with your help, I can plant faster and harvest sooner. That's what I meant."Run Sheng nodded and continued pulling his cart forward.Lin Shuyou had already gone ahead and was now in the courtyard, calling out, "Three-eyes!"Zhao Yi didn't turn around. Instead, he took out a white jade bangle from his bag, handed it to Chen Lin, and said, "A-You is a good match. If you two can get together, I'd be happy. Since you're already fond of each other, look to the long term, focusing on the future. As for the past disputes, the youthful recklessness and impulsiveness, don't mention them or dwell on them anymore."Only after saying this did Zhao Yi glance back at Lin Shuyou. Lin Shuyou was so choked by these words that he could only stare fixedly at Zhao Yi.Seeing this, Chen Lin, despite her deference to Zhao Yi's status, dared not accept his gift and quickly tried to push the bangle back. Zhao Yi wasn't angry; instead, he smiled at Lin Shuyou and said, "What a good girl, she understands how to care about your feelings; she's thoughtful. If you're two-faced and let her down again, I won't forgive you.""You..." Lin Shuyou began.Zhao Yi turned and looked up at the second floor. There were two rattan chairs on the balcony, unoccupied. He then looked at the east room, its door closed. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to first pay respects to the junior, then the senior."Um, can I go upstairs?" he asked."We don't go up there normally unless there's a reason," Tan Wenbin replied.Zhao Yi continued to stare at the second-floor balcony, thinking, *Li, you could at least show some respect.*Just then, Li Zhuiyuan emerged from the room and came onto the balcony. He hadn't intentionally stayed inside; he had been busy extracting the *Evil Book* from the wordless book, deriving a health-preserving cultivation method that had little practical value, essentially just to keep the *Evil Book* from being too idle."Come up," Li Zhuiyuan said.Zhao Yi handed the gifts to Lin Shuyou to carry for him, then went into the house and up the stairs.

Reaching the balcony, Zhao Yi saw Li Zhuiyuan seated in a rattan chair, with another empty one beside him. He started to walk over to sit down. As he approached, a cool, detached gaze emanated from inside the room. Zhao Yi turned his head and met the eyes of the young woman standing at the desk behind the screen door. This was his first time seeing Qin Li. Originally, this girl had nearly become the subject of his marriage contract, and he himself had almost lost his life because of her name.At first glance, he didn't have time to fully appreciate the girl's appearance because, the moment their gazes met, his heart nearly stopped. It wasn't astonishment at her exquisite beauty; purely, his 'life-and-death seam' had detected an immeasurable amount of terrifying malevolence surrounding the girl."Hiss..." Zhao Yi clutched his chest and crouched down, simultaneously quickly closing the 'life-and-death seam,' causing his heart to cease. In this world, there was a type of person who was undetectable and immeasurable; Qin Li was such a person."You come as a guest to someone's house, and you don't even know how to restrain your thoughts.""I wasn't deliberately trying to pry. It's bound to my heart now. I can't exactly take out my heart before visiting someone else's home, can I?""What about now?""I'm already getting lightheaded from lack of blood supply. Quick, give me the things; I'll take them down.""No rush." Li Zhuiyuan changed to another rattan chair, moving to the one by A-Li's side, then gestured for Zhao Yi to take his original seat. Zhao Yi sat down."It's fine now," Li Zhuiyuan said.Zhao Yi reached out and tapped his chest; his heart slowly resumed beating."Your ability is perfect for faking death," Li Zhuiyuan commented."Provided I don't run into you all," Zhao Yi retorted, "you like to kill people, check their bodies, and then pour corrosive liquid on them.""Any news on the Yu family?" Li Zhuiyuan asked."I've inquired, but couldn't dig deep," Zhao Yi replied. "However, I did discover something: many major powers on the river have recently been intensely investigating the Yu family. It seems your family is the only one not making a move. So, I suspect that when we truly face that 'wave' from the Yu family, we're merely the catalyst. Or rather, we can shrewdly leverage other factions' scrutiny of the Yu family as leverage, and simply prepare to fish in troubled waters.""Mm, keep an eye on it and draw up a plan," Li Zhuiyuan instructed."Don't worry, leave it to me," Zhao Yi said. "By the way, should I include those two from your family in the calculations?""No," Li Zhuiyuan stated."Listen to that," Zhao Yi mused, "that's what you call true foundation.""After all, I've already gone," Li Zhuiyuan said."Tsk, no wonder you're so favored by the old lady," Zhao Yi remarked.

Just then, the door to the east room opened, and Liu Yumei emerged. She had been playing cards, but Wang Lian's son had tried to secretly drink pesticide to commit suicide again, and his father had discovered and stopped him in time. So, Liu Jinxia and Granny Hua had hurried back with Wang Lian to comfort and scold him. Liu Yumei was too lazy to get involved in such matters; she would just listen to them elaborate when they played cards again tomorrow. After the card game broke up, Liu Yumei had gone back inside for a short nap.Not only Zhao Yi, but even the head of the Jiujiang Zhao family, if he were to come today, would, according to old rules, have to wait outside the residence for an audience. Of course, she wouldn't specially wait there just to see Zhao Yi. Her current appearance was simply because her nap was over, and she came out to the courtyard for some fresh air. Being old, she couldn't sleep too long during the day, or she wouldn't be able to sleep at night.Zhao Yi stood up, intending to go downstairs to pay his respects."Wait a moment," Li Zhuiyuan said. "I'll go get those books for you to take down."Zhao Yi turned to Li Zhuiyuan, a pained expression on his face. "Are you trying to kill me?""The old lady won't say anything about my affairs," Li Zhuiyuan replied."Are you genuinely unaware or pretending to be unaware of what this implies?" Zhao Yi asked."Do you want them or not?" Li Zhuiyuan pressed."I want them," Zhao Yi conceded.Li Zhuiyuan went back inside, emerged with a tall stack of books, and handed them to Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi took them, went downstairs, and after reaching the courtyard, first placed the books on the ground. Then he jogged over to the old lady. The old lady was already seated, and Tan Wenbin was pouring her tea. Zhao Yi glanced at Tan Wenbin, thinking, *You really are busy, serving both the Qianqing Palace and the Cining Palace alternately.*

Liu Yumei picked up her teacup and cast a glance at Zhao Yi, who quickly prepared to kneel and kowtow. In terms of seniority and status, Zhao Yi should indeed perform a junior's courtesy. He deliberately chose not to perform the standard gate salute, hoping to foster a closer relationship."That's enough, no need to kowtow," Liu Yumei said. "I, this old lady, have nothing good to bestow upon you."Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi didn't force the kowtow. He stood up and bowed, saying, "To be able to meet you, Madam, is a tremendous fortune. If I were to wish for anything more, I would truly be an ill-mannered youth.""Haven't you already received enough benefits?" Liu Yumei countered.Behind them, watching Zhao Yi's almost prostrating gesture, Chen Lin felt her mind reel. Her brother had once marveled at the prestige of the Dragon King family, but this old lady could make the young master of the Dragon King family willingly kowtow and salute?Chen Lin stumbled and nearly fell backward. Yin Meng reached out to help, but Run Sheng grabbed her arm. Lin Shuyou first looked in confusion at Run Sheng and Yin Meng suddenly holding hands, then belatedly reacted and reached out to catch Chen Lin's falling body. Chen Lin instinctively leaned into Lin Shuyou's embrace, clutching his clothes with both hands. This wasn't a deliberate ploy; it was pure instinct from being overly startled. She didn't know when the relief would come, but for now, she was truly plunged into the abyss of fear.Lin Shuyou could feel the trembling of the girl in his arms. He wanted to offer some comfort but didn't know how. He reached out to gently stroke her head but stopped halfway, feeling it wasn't appropriate, and instead touched her forehead. To an outsider, it would have looked like he was checking if she had a fever."You might not know, Madam," Zhao Yi said, "but these are the hard-earned fees I've gained from working like an ox outside.""What 'hard-earned fees'?" Liu Yumei scoffed. "Can they compare to perfecting a legacy? If word got out, outsiders might think your Jiujiang Zhao family has become a mere vassal of my Qin and Liu families.""The past 'hard-earned fees' aren't worth much," Zhao Yi replied, "but there's still the future, isn't there? I can slowly repay it; it will add up eventually."Liu Yumei said no more. She knew that the perfection of a legacy, which outsiders viewed as incredibly precious, was nothing special to Little Yuan. Hadn't Little Yuan also helped the Guanjiangshou correct their methods in the past? If Little Yuan wanted to give it, then he gave it; she was just there to give a gentle warning.Liu Yumei waved her hand. "You young people go and play." She found it inconvenient to discuss matters related to 'walking the river'; nor could she inquire about the situation of their family elders, because the Jiujiang Zhao family was not of sufficient standing and didn't have such deep connections."I brought some offerings from my home," Zhao Yi said. "They aren't expensive items, but rare and thoughtful ones."Liu Yumei closed her eyes."It is my fault," Zhao Yi said, "for disturbing your peaceful rest."

The gifts he had carried all the way had not been distributed because he hadn't received permission from the true owner. When paying a visit, one couldn't simply hand out gifts to everyone; it wasn't proper etiquette. His earlier gift of the jade bangle to Chen Lin was because Zhao Yi knew she wasn't truly part of this household yet.Having noticed the light weight of the hot water flask earlier, Zhao Yi reached for it, intending to replace it with a fresh one. He instinctively headed towards the east room, looking at Tan Wenbin as if to ask if that was where he should go. Tan Wenbin was about to shake his head, indicating that room was off-limits, but the old lady, with her eyes closed, subtly hummed an "Mmm." Zhao Yi had been tricked too many times recently and was wary, but then he thought that if the old lady wanted him dead, there was no need for such elaborate schemes. So, he took a step and entered the east room.Soon, Zhao Yi emerged carrying a new hot water flask. After placing it on the ground, he stepped back, knelt, and forcefully kowtowed. His forehead struck the concrete floor, leaving an indentation while his own forehead bled profusely. He had just seen the spirit tablets inside the east room and had sensed that every single one of them was devoid of spiritual presence. The decline of the Qin and Liu families was no secret among the top powers of the martial world, but probably no one knew that they had fallen so far as to have no ancestral spirits remaining.The last time Li, in a half-joking manner, had asked him if there were any "old immortals" lying in coffins in the Jiujiang Zhao family, the answer was yes. However, the two former true Dragon King lineages truly had no ancestral protection left, apart from their living descendants. It was undoubtedly very difficult for the old lady to sustain such a lineage alone. This also made it clearer how utterly preposterous his Zhao family ancestor's initial marriage proposal had been, and what kind of fury it must have ignited in the old lady.He was alive today because Uncle Qin had, out of recognition, chosen to spare him. But ultimately, it was also because the old lady hadn't directly issued a death order; otherwise, even if he had been stabbed hundreds of times that night, it would have been meaningless. Each generation of Dragon Kings was a legend in their own era, suppressing evil. The spirit tablets of both Dragon King families, enshrined together, were still awe-inspiring even without spiritual presence. Such a family could rise to prominence and then decline, or suddenly fall, but to truly face utter annihilation was simply unacceptable, and Zhao Yi found it unacceptable too.The kowtows grew louder and louder. Each thud struck Chen Lin's heart. She buried her face completely in Lin Shuyou's arms. She was now terrified of this place, not even daring to look at Lin Shuyou's face.Liu Yumei opened her eyes and said, "That's enough. The more you do this, the more I regret not sending A-Ting to meet you back then."Zhao Yi raised his head, blood covering his face, and smiled. "Thank you for your appreciation, Madam." He then added, "After disembarking, this young man will return to the Zhao family and definitely reshape our family traditions, ensuring that old fossil quickly perishes." One could scheme and play mind games when appropriate, but some matters simply couldn't be approached that way."Since you're still alive," Liu Yumei said, "it means I don't care about those things anymore. Your presence here shows that our Little Yuan also acknowledges you."Aunt Liu, sitting on the side of the courtyard still cracking sunflower seeds, nodded. She understood the deeper meaning in the old lady's words: that knowing their Little Yuan was 'walking the river' and still alive was exceptionally rare. Each time she handled letters and visiting cards, and when A-Li occasionally went out to do things, she would pay attention to the martial world's movements. To this day, there had been no public news of Li Zhuiyuan 'walking the river', which showed just how "deadly" he was at keeping secrets.Zhao Yi said casually, "Madam, I truly can't outsmart him. That fellow, he's simply not human." Flattery always works. No elder dislikes hearing praise for their descendants, and besides, Zhao Yi's words were from the heart.Liu Yumei picked up a teacup and offered it to Zhao Yi. "It's not convenient to bestow awards. You are all 'on the boat,' and the waves are rough. Please, just drink this cup of tea. May you emulate your ancestor and inherit the spirit of Zhao Wuyang.""Thank you, Madam," Zhao Yi said. He took the tea and drank it respectfully. The old lady waved her hand, and Zhao Yi stood to leave.

Walking down the courtyard, not far along the path ahead, Zhao Yi let out a soft whistle. Though seemingly nothing was given, something indeed had been—that affirmation from a truly superior being broadened Zhao Yi's horizons. His 'life-and-death seam' expanded further, integrating more deeply with his heart. With the old lady's methods, she could have easily avoided karmic implications and suppressed his state of mind, but she hadn't. Instead, she had offered him a boost. She had clearly discerned what was most crucial for the growth and development of his 'life-and-death seam'.Looking at them, living an ordinary life in the countryside, yet exuding such grandeur, then comparing them to his own family's short-sighted old fossils—it was truly a case of 'comparing goods to throw them away'.Aunt Liu spoke up, "Don't rush off; stay for a meal."Zhao Yi immediately turned around, the previous solemnity vanishing from his face, replaced by a cheerful smile. "One meal won't be enough; I'll have to freeload for several!"Aunt Liu nodded. "Alright, I'll have Mengmeng cook for you."Zhao Yi was speechless.Ahead, voices could be heard. Zhao Yi looked in that direction and saw an old man curiously observing the Liang sisters and Old Man Tian in his wheelchair."Who is that?" Zhao Yi asked Aunt Liu."He's the master of this place," Aunt Liu replied."Oh, so he's Little Yuan's great-grandfather?""Yes."Zhao Yi certainly wouldn't be as naive as Chen Lin to think that the old man was the strongest person here. Truly powerful beings often adhered to the unspoken rule of "kings not meeting kings." This residence could serve as a hidden retreat for a Dragon King lineage, and Li willingly acknowledged him as his great-grandfather. Zhao Yi's eyes narrowed: this elder must possess immense fortune!"I say, what are you folks doing here?" Li Sanjiang asked."We are..." Old Man Tian started, momentarily unsure how to introduce themselves. Claiming to be relatives seemed too presumptuous.Li Sanjiang looked at the sisters, then at Old Man Tian. Hearing their foreign accents, he said, "Oh, are you performers?" The sight of their large and small bags, young sisters, and a disabled elder was a common setup for small acrobatics troupes these days.Zhao Yi walked over and said, "Yes, we're an acrobatics troupe. Old Tian, give our elder a performance."Old Man Tian didn't quite understand, but he followed his Young Master's instruction. Being skilled with knives, he simply picked up a handful of pebbles from the ground and began tossing and catching them continuously. The pebbles flew through the air, moving so fast they became blurs.Zhao Yi then looked at the Liang sisters and said, "Don't just stand there; quickly show the elder what you can do!"The sisters exchanged glances, both thinking their boss had gone mad.Zhao Yi said sternly, "Quickly, obey!"The sisters had no choice but to compose themselves. One began performing continuous somersaults, while the other bent backward, peering her head through her legs."Whoa, impressive, truly impressive!" Li Sanjiang exclaimed."Elder, do you believe us now?" Zhao Yi asked.Li Sanjiang nodded. "I believe you, I believe you. You're the head of this acrobatics troupe, aren't you?""Yes, that's right," Zhao Yi confirmed. "We're the Jiujiang Zhao Family Acrobatics Troupe, and I'm the young master.""Exactly, exactly," Li Sanjiang agreed. "A typical acrobatics troupe usually has a boss who's a bit effeminate.""Hehehe... Yes, yes, that's exactly right," Zhao Yi chuckled awkwardly."Hey, isn't that our pickup truck?" Li Sanjiang asked. "How did you get here?""We met Little Yuan, oh, Li Zhuiyuan, in another city," Zhao Yi explained. "He invited us to Nantong to perform as guests, so here we are.""Oh, so you're Little Yuan Hou's friends?" Li Sanjiang asked."Yes, very good friends," Zhao Yi affirmed. "If you don't believe me, you can ask him.""Why wouldn't I believe you?" Li Sanjiang said. "Our Little Yuan Hou is indeed very good at making friends." And every time Little Yuan Hou brought friends home, they turned into excellent mules."Have you eaten yet?" Li Sanjiang asked."Not yet," Zhao Yi replied."Then let's eat together later at home," Li Sanjiang said. "I'll ask Ting Hou to prepare more dishes.""Oh, that's too much trouble," Zhao Yi said.Li Sanjiang waved his hand. "No trouble at all. There's work to be done this afternoon."Zhao Yi paused, then asked, "Work?""There's a funeral this afternoon," Li Sanjiang said. "I won't invite other performance teams; you all can perform. I'm telling you, the host family is generous; you can earn a good amount!"Seeing their somewhat dumbfounded expressions, Li Sanjiang wondered, "What's wrong? You don't want to?"*Slap!*Zhao Yi slapped his thigh vigorously, exclaiming in delight, "This is wonderful news! We just arrived and already have work and money to earn! Elder, you truly are my dear elder!"