Chapter 306

Ah Li's hand didn't tremble at all, and her face showed no unnecessary expression. She simply tilted the chisel she held, raised the hammer again, and brought it down.

"Thump!"

This time, the cracks in the skull didn't spread as widely as before; they only extended in specific directions from the initial point of impact. This meant that the alarming sound of the first strike was anticipated, and each subsequent crack served as a necessary main branch or offshoot for the process.

After his initial cry, Run Sheng stopped roaring. He sat steadily, clenching his fists, gritting his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. Run Sheng could even anticipate the direction of the girl's next strike based on the chisel's tilt, preparing to counterbalance the force for better stability.

Next came the third, fourth, fifth strikes... The sound of chiseling continued at a specific rhythm. Grooves were gradually chiseled into Run Sheng's scalp, which quickly filled with rich, crimson blood. This blood pulsed faintly, mirroring his heartbeat.

***

Outside the circle, Tan Wenbin got a cigarette from Zhao Yi, lit it, and turned his back. If it were a normal fight where people lost limbs, he could accept it more easily. But this kind of chiseling and carving, treating a person like stone to be meticulously worked on inch by inch, was something he, as an observer, could no longer bear to watch directly.

Lin Shuyou also went to ask Zhao Yi for a cigarette but was refused with a swat of the hand. Ah You could only sit down, put a rice stalk in his mouth, lower his head, and rub his hands together.

Zhao Yi's brow had remained furrowed since the first chisel strike. He had drafted the plan and knew that Li would integrate and upgrade it. However, he had assumed it would be about transforming Run Sheng's physical issues into strengths, like connecting treacherous rapids with a river. Such an act, in Zhao Yi's mind, already bordered on madness.

But that wasn't the case. The chiseling began from the head, which meant that in Li's view, these vital points and current problems were considered minor. The young man intended to carve a true great river through Run Sheng's body, then use the force of its waters to break through and integrate those fatal blockages.

Zhao Yi reached out, pulled the rice stalk from Lin Shuyou's mouth, held it, and mimicked a carving motion. To realize this astonishing concept, three things were needed: first, a profound understanding of the "Qin Clan's Dragon-Watching Method"; second, mastery of carving beyond the expert level; and third, insight into the concept of fate and the Way of Heaven. The girl could achieve the first two; Zhao Yi was amazed but not entirely surprised.

But the third... Could someone who never left home or entered society truly achieve such a divine understanding while staying indoors? It was illogical, impossible. She couldn't do it. Unless one of the ancestral Dragon Kings of the Qin and Liu families suddenly possessed her. But he had visited the ancestral altars of both families, and there were no spirits present at all.

Zhao Yi's gaze returned to Li. Li couldn't possibly be unaware of the problems Zhao Yi could see, but Li's carving skills were quite ordinary. There was no reason for Li to deceive him on this point. Zhao Yi was very curious what Li would do next.

The carving on Run Sheng's head was finished. Ah Li descended, stepping onto the next stool. The chisel and hammer in her hands didn't stop; she continued carving Run Sheng's back neck. Blood flowed down from his head like lava. After reaching the lower part of the neck, Ah Li began carving towards both shoulders. As the carved area expanded, the agitated sensation of the "lava" grew stronger, no longer following the rhythm of the heartbeat as before.

Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward. Run Sheng's eyes were bloodshot, and his consciousness was extremely strained.

"Brother Run Sheng, bear with it a little longer."

Run Sheng made some guttural sounds, indicating he understood. Li Zhuiyuan wasn't telling Run Sheng to endure the pain, but to continue suppressing the malevolent energy, grievances, and ghostly aura within him from dissipating. Run Sheng had been trying to do this from the start, as their dispersion would significantly affect Ah Li. The effect wouldn't be fatal, and Ah Li herself wasn't that weak, especially with Li Zhuiyuan present. But this was an endurance task; the carving had to be completed tonight. It was impossible to stop halfway, bandage up, rest for a few days, and then resume. Therefore, the artisan's condition had to be maintained from the very beginning.

***

As the entire back was nearing completion, Ah Li descended lower and lower. Li Zhuiyuan took the empty stools from the upper levels and restacked them in front. Once the back was finished, Ah Li moved to the front, ascended, and stood on the highest stool. The chisel rested on Run Sheng's glabella, and the small hammer struck.

"Thump!"

The shift from back to front brought a new round of terrifying impact, compounded by Run Sheng's endurance reaching its limit. From his head and back, the blood that had been flowing along the newly carved paths first turned purple, then gray, and finally was covered by deep black. Three streams of aura overflowed, a wind rose within the circle, and black mist permeated the air, enveloping Ah Li as well.

Fine sweat now appeared on the girl's face; exhaustion had already set in, but that was secondary. The main issue was that after being enveloped by the black mist, countless terrifying figures appeared before her. Ah Li's body began to tremble, her lips slightly turned up, yet she still focused intently, tilting the chisel downward and striking the hammer again.

"Thump!"

The carving continued. Subconsciously, Run Sheng must have understood the pressure this situation put on Ah Li and tried to reabsorb those auras. However, as more paths opened and the surge grew stronger, his control over his body became increasingly weak.

"Slurp!"

A crisp sound.

Then, Ah Li saw a hand emerge from the black mist, holding an open can of Jianlibao with a straw inserted. The girl opened her mouth, bit the straw, and took a few sips. The ghostly figures in the surrounding black mist quickly faded in her eyes, no longer so terrifying. The girl had always lived in a state of fear towards the world; only the young man could provide her with true security.

She continued carving while drinking the beverage. The girl released the straw. Li Zhuiyuan withdrew his hand, drank the remaining half-can himself, then walked several steps away until he was outside the black mist. The black mist grew thicker and its range expanded. Within the circle, it occupied more area than what remained, and it was no longer churning aimlessly. It was increasingly coalescing into defined shapes, like fine streams of water flowing within the black mist. If nothing went wrong, it would soon transform into something resembling a swimming flood dragon.

***

Outside the circle, Zhao Yi watched Li Zhuiyuan emerge from the black mist. As it stood, the situation was nearing the brink of collapse. Even Run Sheng probably couldn't control the power within him now, and the girl was still carving; Li hadn't told her to stop. The most normal and logical inference was that soon, Run Sheng's body, along with the power within him, would completely explode. Li and the girl, if they didn't leave the circle in time, would also be affected.

Yet, Zhao Yi wasn't worried about this terrible outcome. He knew Li too well. What he was more curious about now was how Li planned to resolve it.

Zhao Yi saw Li close his eyes.

"No way, you're taking a nap now?"

Li Zhuiyuan delved deep into his consciousness. The young man walked along the path to Great-Grandpa's house. Looking up, he saw his true self standing on the dike, seemingly waiting specifically for him.

As he approached, his true self spoke first: "I thought you would have some special idea, and I was waiting to witness a surprise."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Sorry, I disappointed you."

In reality, Zhao Yi was still racking his brain, meticulously deducing how Li Zhuiyuan would manage such a highly difficult conclusion. In fact, Zhao Yi was thinking in vain, because Li Zhuiyuan himself had no method at all. Li Zhuiyuan hadn't even expended an iota of mental effort on this matter. Just as Li Zhuiyuan had previously replied to Zhao Yi: "No one has the energy to learn everything; enough is enough."

Two identical young men ascended the stairs, one after the other. Li Zhuiyuan, walking behind, looked at the back of his true self in front of him. He possessed a profound mastery of the "Qin Clan's Dragon-Watching Method," was skilled in master-level carving, and most importantly, had a deep understanding of the principles of the Way of Heaven. Only his true self could meet all three conditions simultaneously. Li Zhuiyuan had long suspected what his true self was tinkering with in Great-Grandpa's basement. Moreover, the last time he had lingered in the fish pond at the brink of life and death, his true self had dumped a cartload of discarded materials into the pond right in front of him.

***

The two arrived on the terrace, facing forward. As far as their eyes could see, there was a rice field, brimming with the scent of harvest.

True Self: "Outsiders probably wouldn't believe it if I told them. You actually used your subordinate's life to threaten me into helping you?"

There was no preamble, no discussion. Li Zhuiyuan simply arrived at this critical juncture, with the situation already in progress and nearing an unmanageable conclusion.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Your goal is to replace me, so you cannot allow Run Sheng to die in this hastily occurring accident."

True Self: "Haven't you learned emotions?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's precisely because I have some emotions that I would do this."

Run Sheng was currently the one most eager to become stronger. It was precisely to consider Run Sheng's feelings that Li Zhuiyuan chose such an extreme method this time.

True Self: "You're gambling with Run Sheng's life, betting that I will act. It's truly hard to imagine you doing something like this."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I am a heart demon, after all."

His true self turned its head and glanced at Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Considering the bigger picture should be a concern for the true self."

His true self reached out, and the next moment, wind swept through the rice blossoms.

"Li Zhuiyuan, if you continue like this, I will consider initiating the struggle for this body earlier. You should be more rational. Before you think the time is ripe, improving the strength of our teammates aligns with our common interests. You wouldn't want to replace me one day only to find that the people around you are too weak and utterly useless, would you?"

True Self: "This time, you won the gamble."

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "Great-Grandpa taught me that a 100% certain outcome isn't gambling; it's called 'procurement'."

True Self: "Aren't you afraid you'll lose the next time you gamble?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Unless I create the conditions for a 100% outcome, I won't step up to the gambling table. So, there's only one reason I could lose: if you also start acting on emotions."

His true self said no more. The wind around them grew stronger. As the rice waves rolled, the shape of a flood dragon appeared. At first, it swam freely, but then it was pulled and fixed by various points. Standing nearby, Li Zhuiyuan watched intently, mentally noting the carving points. Finally, the flood dragon in the rice field was completely pinned down. In the wind, a long, unwilling howl seemed to be heard. This was the final concluding method.

True Self: "Go tell her. She'll know how to carve."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. Having obtained what he wanted, the young man turned to leave.

His true self, still facing the rice field, said: "You can consider taking her 'journeying on the river' now."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's not time yet."

True Self: "She has astonishing talent."

Li Zhuiyuan: "On that point, I knew before you did."

True Self: "She needs experience and tempering to grow better and be of great use in the future."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I never forced her to go to school because she didn't like it; similarly, I won't force her to 'journey on the river' now, because she still has deep shadows regarding the outside world." The ghostly aura emanating from Run Sheng alone put immense pressure on Ah Li. This pressure wasn't from the ghost aura's harm itself, but from her internal hurdle. Li Zhuiyuan knew that if he were by Ah Li's side, he could help her effectively overcome her fear of the outside world. However, 'journeying on the river' meant facing various unexpected situations, and being separated or isolated was unavoidable. At such times, what would truly break Ah Li wouldn't be actual danger, but her instinctive fear and resistance to this unfamiliar world deep within her heart. Indeed, as his true self said, the experience and tempering from 'journeying on the river' could help her gradually adapt. But the person who emerged from that adaptation would likely be an expressionless Ah Li, just like when they first met, sitting inside with her feet propped on the threshold.

A major reason he chose to join the Qin and Liu clans to 'light lamps and journey on the river' was to protect her and help her with her illness. Would it not be putting the cart before the horse to forcibly push her out to worsen her condition for the sake of better 'river journeying'?

***

True Self: "You should know that your protection is detrimental to her growth."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I am a heart demon; acting on emotions is my prerogative."

His true self said nothing more.

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Are you finished?"

True Self: "Speaking one more word to you makes me sick."

Li Zhuiyuan didn't retort and walked downstairs.

In reality, the young man opened his eyes. Black mist now covered eighty percent of the area within the circle. At this point, not just Zhao Yi, but Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou also noticed something was wrong. Strange entities were vaguely seen moving and churning within the black mist. Once this power fully unleashed itself, the array circle would be utterly unable to withstand it.

Li Zhuiyuan walked forward through the black mist. Soon, he saw a tall figure sitting there, its body covered in grooves, with a dense, oppressive black substance flowing like magma. In front of him stood a girl, her small hammer still striking the chisel.

Li Zhuiyuan walked up and stood beside Ah Li.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

With the final chisel strike, Ah Li stopped. There was no relief on the girl's face, for she had completed all processes according to the carving diagram the young man had given her earlier. Yet, the problem was not only unresolved but on the verge of complete chaos. The flood dragon-like shadows, almost tangible, were gathering their final power. Run Sheng's consciousness was completely suppressed, and the red in his eyes was so intense it almost seemed to drip. In fact, even if Run Sheng were conscious at this moment, he would be powerless to stop the situation.

Ah Li looked at the young man beside her, a hint of confusion in her gaze, as if she were blaming herself, wondering if she had done something wrong.

"Ah Li, you've done perfectly. There's just one final step, the diagram for which I just received."

Li Zhuiyuan took the girl's hand. They had performed this gesture countless times before. Early on, Li Zhuiyuan had even used entering Ah Li's dreams as special training to hone his spiritual will.

The humble house in the dream, the cracked ancestral tablets on the altar. The young man led the girl by the hand and sat on the threshold. The weather was clear, white clouds drifted, and the scene of past nightmares was now fragrant with flowers. Most of those things were gone; the small remaining portion that stayed to watch only occasionally glanced up, usually turning their backs. Compared to the lively scene of "all the wise gathering" back then, it was much quieter and cleaner.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his right hand, pulling, wiping, and pushing it back and forth across the sky. With the aid of Feng Shui power, the clouds in the sky were rapidly being shaped into the young man's desired form. This was a replication of his true self's rice waves.

Ah Li looked up, watching intently. Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head, looking at the girl's profile. If one day Ah Li's condition truly improved to that extent, and she willingly got into the car when he left home for his 'river journey', then he would take her. But at that time, it wouldn't be purely for the 'river journey', but to take her to admire the scenery on the river.

After the clouds in the sky finished their transformation, they slowly dispersed. The girl looked at the boy and nodded. Both of them closed their eyes together.

In reality, Ah Li opened her eyes, picked up the chisel and small hammer, and continued carving Run Sheng's body. With each hammer strike, Run Sheng grunted, and the black mist spreading outwards also trembled and contracted inwards.

Outside the circle, Zhao Yi was so anxious he wanted to scratch his ears and cheeks. The situation that should have collapsed was instantly reversed, yet he was completely unaware of what was happening inside, obscured by the black mist. At this moment, Zhao Yi envied Lin Shuyou, because Ah You only needed to clench his fists and wave them, happily acting as a cheerleader.

Layer by layer, section by section, as the black mist was continuously absorbed back into his body, Run Sheng's bloodshot eyes began to clear. After the final strike was completed, Run Sheng lowered his head and looked at the girl standing in front of him. The girl stepped back and stood beside the young man.

Run Sheng stood up, tilted his head back, first spread his hands open, then clenched them into fists.

"Buzz!"

Black patterns flowed across his body. Whether it was malevolent energy, grievances, or ghostly aura, all could flow and surge freely within the unobstructed "waterways."

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!..."

Small, crack-like bursts continuously appeared on Run Sheng's body, each time his body trembled slightly, but quickly stabilized.

Lin Shuyou asked doubtfully, "Three-eyes, is this a success or not?" Such a powerful aura, yet his body was constantly spouting blood from small openings, like being shot.

Zhao Yi: "It's a success. These are the vital points being broken open, and the hidden dangers completely eliminated."

The prolonged cracking sounds finally ceased. Run Sheng, covered in wounds, brought his fists in front of him, then smashed them against his own chest.

"Thump!"

A terrifying wave of air swept forth, and the array circle was directly shattered. However, Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li, standing in front of Run Sheng, didn't even have a single hair stir. This indicated that Run Sheng's mastery over his power had reached a very high level.

It must be said that Uncle Qin's initial assessment of Run Sheng was very accurate; Uncle Qin was the first to perform body carving on Run Sheng. Run Sheng proved that as long as one's body is strong enough and one's willpower is astonishing enough, practicing martial arts can truly be done without needing to think too much.

After scanning around, Run Sheng looked at Lin Shuyou. Lin Shuyou smiled and twisted his neck from side to side. Zhao Yi placed a hand on Lin Shuyou's shoulder and said:

"You're not his match, at least not head-on anymore."

Zhao Yi had previously commanded Li's team more than once. Run Sheng was the most suitable person to stand at the front, but sometimes, Lin Shuyou could also fill that role temporarily. But from this night forward, the gap in their characteristics had completely widened. That position could only belong to Run Sheng.

Lin Shuyou: "At worst, I'll get a beating. Doesn't matter."

Both had just improved their strength and were eager for a fight.

Li Zhuiyuan walked over, holding Ah Li's hand. With one sentence, the young man diffused the tense atmosphere: "Hurry up and restore the field, lest Great-Grandpa wakes up tomorrow morning and scolds us."

Lin Shuyou: "Oh."

Run Sheng's imposing aura dissipated. The black receded, turning into red blood that quickly scabbed over. He then bent down and began to tidy up the rice field.

As the young man passed Zhao Yi, Zhao Yi asked: "Who exactly did you ask for help?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "You, too."

Zhao Yi pointed at his own face.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Another external brain."

After Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li left, Zhao Yi was still pondering that remark. Does Li also have a Su Luo in his head? But wasn't Li immune to the side effects of the black-covered book's secret technique?

Tan Wenbin: "Away team."

Zhao Yi: "Hm?"

Tan Wenbin: "You'll have to work hard for a bit later. Run Sheng's injuries..."

Zhao Yi: "I'll apply medicine for him, and then use paper to cover him up so he won't scare anyone during the day." Actually, in this household, excluding the old lady Liu's card friends, the only person who truly needed to be kept in the dark was Li's great-grandpa.

Tan Wenbin: "As expected of the away team, you always have a solution."

Zhao Yi: "You're too kind, Deputy Captain."

Lin Shuyou, busy working, shouted: "Three-eyes, don't just stand there watching! Come help us clean up!" If Lin Shuyou and Run Sheng had started sparring here earlier, this field would have been ruined. Now, the damaged area was just the circle where the array had been set up. The solution was simple: pull out rice from other fields and replant it in the empty circle to fill it in, making it look uniform and inconspicuous.

***

Li Zhuiyuan and Ah Li walked to the dike. Under the light of a bulb extended on a long pole outside, the young man took the girl's wrist and spread open her hands. Ah Li's hands were covered in bruises. Even with the array's enhancement, repeatedly striking with a hammer and chisel still caused the girl immense pressure and strain.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the nearby chair and said, "Sit down, I'll treat your wounds."

The girl tried to pull her hand away from the young man, simultaneously looking towards the East Wing door. Her intention was that she could go back and let Grandma help her. Li Zhuiyuan didn't let go. Finally, Ah Li sat down on the long bench with the young man.

The weather was bad tonight; the clouds were thick, and neither the moon nor the stars could be seen. A blood mist emanated from the young man's palm, covering the girl's hands, helping to invigorate blood circulation and disperse bruising. The evening breeze was a bit strong, constantly blowing the girl's hair, brushing against Li Zhuiyuan's face, tickling him. After a good while, the young man spread the girl's hands open again. The bruises were gone, and her hands were rosy.

Getting up, they walked together to the East Wing door. Ah Li pushed it open and went inside, and Li Zhuiyuan turned and walked upstairs.

***

"Come, let Grandma see."

Liu Yumei, in a white nightgown, walked over and took her granddaughter's hand. But her granddaughter now held her fists clenched, as if clutching something precious she didn't want to share.

"Just let Grandma take a look?"

Ah Li's hand remained clenched.

Liu Yumei feigned a frown and said, "Will you let your elder sister take a look?"

The girl looked up, seriously glancing at her Grandma-sister. The clenched fist relaxed. After examining them, Liu Yumei nodded with satisfaction. To use vital blood for a bruising massage—that was truly generous.

"The bathwater is ready for you. Go take a bath."

Ah Li went to the inner room to bathe. Liu Yumei turned her head, her gaze quickly falling on Ah Li's grandfather's ancestral tablet. She hummed and said: "This boy is much more attentive than you were back then. Our Ah Li truly has been living a pampered life since childhood."

***

The next morning, Li Zhuiyuan deliberately woke up earlier than usual. Just as he finished washing up by the water缸 on the terrace, he heard footsteps behind him. It was Ah Li. Today, Ah Li was wearing a red dress, elegant yet flowing. She had probably worn the Liu family style clothes too much the day before, so the old lady had Ah Li wear Qin family style clothes as a gesture, to appease the un-manifesting ancestors on the altar, preventing any talk of her being biased as the Qin family's young mistress.

Entering the room, Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the bed, signaling Ah Li to lie down. He knew that no matter how tired or late the girl had slept last night, she would certainly come to his room at her usual time this morning. So he deliberately got up early to free up the bed for her to catch up on sleep.

Ah Li shook her head, indicating she wasn't tired. "Usually, you watch me sleep. Today, I want to watch you sleep."

The girl got into bed and lay down. After Li Zhuiyuan covered her with the quilt, he walked behind the desk, picked up a pen, opened a book, and continued to deconstruct the process of making talisman armor. Each time he confirmed a step, Li Zhuiyuan would look up and glance at the girl sleeping on the bed. He experienced the joy Ah Li felt every morning when she came to his room to watch him sleep.

While deducing and deconstructing the talisman armor, the young man also began designing his family's array field. He decided to set up a permanent array ground in the field behind the house from last night, which could serve as both an experimental site and a training ground in the future. Actually, the spatial rift encountered in the bandit village was most suitable for this purpose, but the young man currently lacked the ability to move that object. Qing'an's peach forest was also suitable, but the site fee there was too "expensive," and Li Zhuiyuan didn't have much in stock, so he had to use it sparingly. The complex design work should have been tedious, but the thought that all these materials would soon be obtainable brought a sense of ease to Li Zhuiyuan's heart.

***

In the kitchen, Aunt Liu was preparing breakfast for everyone. Amidst her busyness, she would occasionally glance at the gu worm resting on the kitchen windowsill, smiling. As she carried breakfast out, she saw Uncle Qin, who had been working in the fields since morning, return with a hoe.

Aunt Liu: "Why didn't you let Run Sheng go with you this morning?"

Uncle Qin: "He wanted to come with me, but I told him to stay at home. His skin is delicate right now; I don't want it to burst open."

Aunt Liu: "Young people these days are so daring; they'll do anything." As she spoke, Aunt Liu winked at Uncle Qin. At the East Wing door, the old lady had already come out.

Uncle Qin: "It's not about courage; it's about capability. At the same age, we were like two children playing in the mud compared to Xiao Yuan."

The old lady smiled, feeling that even the chirping birds on the eaves sounded especially pleasant today. After rinsing his feet by the well, Uncle Qin went into the kitchen to help carry breakfast. Aunt Liu gently nudged him with her elbow and said, "You did well today, made great progress."

Uncle Qin: "What progress?"

Aunt Liu: "Towards the mistress."

Uncle Qin: "Who can hear the mistress's footsteps? And I had my back to her."

Hearing this, Aunt Liu sighed and said: "Sigh, sometimes I truly feel sorry for the mistress. Luckily, she met Xiao Yuan now. Otherwise, if she had to look at me every day, especially you, she'd be so vexed."

***

Deliveries were scheduled for the afternoon, and Run Sheng couldn't do heavy labor today, so someone else had to be chosen between Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou.

"Ah You, you go. I have something to do this afternoon."

Lin Shuyou stared at Tan Wenbin with suspicion: "Tan Wenbin, you're not going to..."

Tan Wenbin: "I really do have something to do. My dad called and asked me to visit an old colleague of his at the city's People's Hospital."

Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin, doesn't that sound familiar?"

Tan Wenbin: "His old colleague's son."

To pursue rebellion and resist his father's tyranny, Liu Ping deliberately dyed his hair and hung out with a group of trend-followers. Last night, while a group of them were eating at a street food stall, some of his companions, for unknown reasons, started bullying a young couple at the next table, demanding not only their money but also that they kneel and crawl through their legs to apologize. Liu Ping stepped forward to stop his companions, trying to persuade them to settle the matter peacefully. However, he couldn't stop them and instead got into a conflict with his own companions. They ended up fighting, and he got a wine bottle smashed on his head. Now, he was sharing a hospital room with his father.

After listening, Lin Shuyou asked: "Brother Bin, is this considered righteous bravery or an internal gang fight?"

Tan Wenbin jingled his car keys and sighed, "This is muddled youth."

After visiting the hospital, Tan Wenbin found that although both father and son had bandages on their heads, their relationship had become much closer; they were even sharing oranges. On his way back, he passed the examination hall again. Checking the time, the last subject should be almost over. Tan Wenbin simply pulled his car over to the side of the road.

Before long, a traffic police officer walked over, saluted, and said, "Comrade, parking is prohibited here now. Please move your vehicle immediately."

"Sorry, I'll leave right away."

Just as Tan Wenbin started his car, the exam-end bell rang inside. Along with the bell, two boys rushed quickly to the school gate, carrying a girl who appeared to be unconscious, her white clothes stained with nosebleed. The ones carrying her out were Pan Zi and Lei Zi. Their purpose in taking the college entrance exam was to have no regrets in life, so after finishing the questions they planned to answer for each subject, they would submit their papers early. However, after submitting their papers, they didn't dare leave the school gate directly. This was a downtown examination center, and there might be newspaper or TV reporters outside. If they left too early and were photographed and interviewed about the college entrance exam, wouldn't that be incredibly embarrassing?

It was the same for the last subject. The two came out early and sat in the flowerbed, sunbathing. Until the invigilator stumbled out, helping Ying Zi along. Seeing it was one of their own, Pan Zi and Lei Zi immediately took her, rushing out of the school gate. Tan Wenbin immediately got out of his car, called the three over, and helped them into his car. Seeing this, the traffic police helped clear the traffic ahead. As the car drove off, Tan Wenbin noticed that Ying Zi's nosebleed had stopped. Although she was still somewhat disoriented, she was no longer in danger.

Ying Zi, who had just finished her paper and was about to let out a long sigh of relief, was met with a dizzying sensation. Just before collapsing, she immediately reached out and pulled her paper, ensuring her name and exam number were clearly filled in. Only then did she confidently collapse. The college entrance exam had completely drained and tensed her.

After taking Ying Zi to Shinan Town Health Center for an IV drip, Tan Wenbin drove back to pick up Li Weihan and Cui Guiying. After several back-and-forths, he finally drove home.

As he parked, he happened to see Zhao Yi walking by, cracking sunflower seeds. Noticing Tan Wenbin's busy appearance and the bloodstains on him: "Oh, Deputy Captain, busy, are we?"

"Took Ying Zi to the health center. She's still semi-conscious now."

"Did she finish the last subject?"

"Yes, she finished."

"Then she's quite lucky. If she'd missed one subject, she'd really have no chance."

"Is your folk remedy that potent?"

"It has nothing to do with me. It's her own overthinking. I've noticed that all the brains in the Old Li family are on Li's head. Oh, and his mother's too."

"Brother Binbin!" Cui Cui's voice came. She was carrying a red plastic bucket with ink and paint inside, coming to find Sister Ah Li.

"Hey, Cui Cui."

Cui Cui looked up at Zhao Yi, her eyes showing confusion. Zhao Yi looked at Cui Cui, his eyes gradually widening.

"This big brother is..."

"He's called Zhao Yi."

"Oh, I know! The acrobat troupe brother!"

After a brief exchange of greetings, Cui Cui skipped ahead.

Zhao Yi: "I didn't notice at first, but the bracelet on her wrist suppresses her fate. Without that bracelet, this little girl... Wait, she wouldn't be Liu Jinxia's granddaughter, would she?"

"Yes, she is."

Zhao Yi slapped his forehead. He had seen Liu Jinxia and the old lady Liu playing cards on the dike. Liu Jinxia indeed had a strong fate, but not to the extent that it would make Xuanmen practitioners frown. But if her granddaughter was this severe, then her daughter must also be more severe than Liu Jinxia herself. If Old Man Tian and Blind Liu really got together, and three generations of ancestors and descendants were given recognition, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"How could there be such a strange fate? It shouldn't be like this."

"What's wrong? A strong fate, even if rare, shouldn't make you react like this, should it?"

"People with strong fates aren't strange. But a strong fate passed down through generations is another matter. Liu Jinxia isn't local, is she?"

"Old Man Li mentioned she married over from the neighboring town."

"Her household registration should have problems, but she herself might not know." Zhao Yi saw Li Zhuiyuan standing on the second-floor terrace in the distance. "Let's go, I'm going to find Li."

"Something wrong?"

"Haven't all your matters here been handled? Look, I've been to Nantong twice already and stayed so long. Thanks for the hospitality, but it's rude not to reciprocate. You should at least have Li bring you to be guests at my Zhao family home."

***

As Zhao Yi walked onto the dike, Li Zhuiyuan happened to come down from upstairs.

Cui Cui: "Brother Xiao Yuan!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Hm, Ah Li is in the room upstairs."

Cui Cui: "Okay, I'm going!"

The school started a painting interest class, and Cui Cui enrolled. During this time, she also accompanied Ah Li to learn painting, and now, she was considered the most talented child by the painting class teacher.

Zhao Yi walked over, leaned close to Li Zhuiyuan, rubbing his hands, and said, "Brother Xiao Yuan..."

"Run Sheng's injuries aren't fully healed, and you're not completely recovered either. Let's go to Jinling for the exam first, then go to Jiujiang."

"Going to Jiujiang, picking something out, burying a few people, that won't take much time. You can finish things in Jiujiang and go directly to Jinling for the exam; there'll be plenty of time. As for my and Run Sheng's injuries, they'll be almost recovered in two more days. And just before going to the Zhao family, I need to get an identity."

"An identity?"

"Before 'journeying on the river' and 'lighting lamps,' I officially separated from my family. Unless I 'light lamps' a second time now, if I go home, the entire family will be 'as if facing a formidable enemy.' How can I work conveniently in that state? Besides, I'm inviting you to be guests at my house. It wouldn't be proper to have guests literally 'fight their way in' through the main gate, would it?"

"You reserved an identity?"

"My second uncle's child, my younger cousin, one year younger than me. On the surface, he's harmless and likable, like you..."

Zhao Yi looked at Li Zhuiyuan, then smoothly shifted his gaze to Lin Shuyou, who was sitting in the living room reading a book. "He's very much like Ah You under your command."

Li Zhuiyuan scooped water from the bucket and washed his hands.

Zhao Yi continued: "But that kid had a dirty past. He did some vile things, deserving of death, you could say. Later, fearing exposure, my second uncle arranged for him to live alone in the Jiujiang suburbs, planning to bring him home after things quieted down. I'll kill him first, then put on his skin. I can casually blend into the Zhao family without being discovered; after all, I am also a true young master of the Zhao family. As for the detailed plan for the next steps, it's all in here."

Zhao Yi pulled a stack of notebooks, much thicker than yesterday's, from his clothes and handed them to Li Zhuiyuan.

"Does a plan need to be this thick?"

"Besides the plan, it also contains the coordinates, array introductions, mechanism details of several secret places, new residences, old houses, ancestral graves, and treasure vaults of my Zhao family in Jiujiang, as well as the personalities, habits, and specialties of some capable individuals in my Zhao family. And I've written this concisely."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'll burn it after I read it."

This set of records, an authentic young master of the Zhao family truly couldn't have written it. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, it would likely bring about the utter destruction of the Zhao family. The cover could perfectly be titled — "The Zhao Family Annihilation Guide."

"So, Brother Xiao Yuan?"

"Tonight, you go to the riverside and drive our large truck back. We'll depart for Jiujiang tomorrow morning."

"Old Man Tian can't leave here. There are only five of us going to Jiujiang; where do we need a big truck, haha."

"Not needed on the way there, but useful on the way back."

"Li, you're absolutely right!" The decision was made, and he was willing to give it, but thinking about the scene of them leaving with a truck full of essence, the "gates of life and death" in his heart still twitched involuntarily.

Li Zhuiyuan said to Run Sheng, "Brother Run Sheng, please prepare a table for me." Immediately after, Li Zhuiyuan said to Zhao Yi, "Don't leave yet."

Zhao Yi: "Nonsense, don't be so polite. I won't stay for dinner."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm not asking you to stay for dinner. I'm asking you to kowtow."

What Li Zhuiyuan asked Run Sheng to prepare was not a dinner banquet, but an ancestral altar. The altar was set up in the partitioned room that Great-Grandpa had adorned with countless divine and Buddha images. Li Zhuiyuan took out a blank ancestral tablet and handed it to Zhao Yi: "Write a blood pledge." Zhao Yi understood the young man's meaning. He cut his fingertip and wrote "Ancestor Zhao Wuyang" on the tablet with his blood. After placing the tablet on the altar, Zhao Yi stepped back two paces, knelt down, and bowed to his ancestor.

The Zhao family of Jiujiang were the descendants and inheritors left by Zhao Wuyang. Li Zhuiyuan had once received a copper coin sword from Zhao Wuyang. Since this trip also carried ill intent, he should perform a divination, not seeking a result, but merely fulfilling the formality.

As Zhao Yi kowtowed, Li Zhuiyuan stood by his side, holding a bamboo tube containing copper coins. He shook it while silently chanting: "Divining for this journey." On the altar, Zhao Wuyang's tablet swayed a few times. In the East Wing, many ancestral tablets on that row of altars also swayed simultaneously.

Liu Yumei, who was playing cards on the dike, first looked at her East Wing, then towards the western partitioned room.

Liu Jinxia: "Sister Liu, it's your turn."

Liu Yumei: "I'll take it."

Inside the partitioned room. The bamboo tube in the young man's hand, reinforced with iron wire by Great-Grandpa, cracked open, and the copper coins inside fell to the ground. Li Zhuiyuan and Zhao Yi both looked down simultaneously. Immediately, Zhao Yi straightened his body, his face solemn, and bowed deeply towards the ancestral tablet. Li Zhuiyuan also stepped forward, lit three thin incense sticks, performed the junior's礼, bowed three times, and respectfully placed the incense into the burner.

The divination result: This trip shall be taken; extremely auspicious!