Chapter 985: Niu Xin Village

Hearing Gouwa say such a thing, the teacher choked in surprise, having burned his tongue. He sucked in cold air while glaring angrily at Gouwa.

"You, you, you! How outrageous! How dare you insult a sage like that! Do you even know what a high-ranking official a prime minister is? And you dare to say you can be one?"

"Do you know how much knowledge is required to be such an official? You, a fool who doesn't even know the Three Character Classic, how dare you utter such words!"

Gouwa, however, looked disdainful. "What's the big deal?" he retorted. "If a fool can be emperor, then I can be prime minister."

As Gouwa argued with the teacher, a thin, very gaunt-looking woman walked past the village entrance.

She was carrying a basket, with a lotus root peeking out from under its cloth cover. After seeing the crowd at the village entrance, she immediately quickened her pace, hurrying into the village.

Her pace was so fast that she almost collided head-on with three monkey-children coming from the opposite direction.

The monkey-children brought back by Yang Xiaohai now looked much better. Although they still exhibited some monkey-like behaviors, they at least appeared very human, as evidenced by the three of them bowing respectfully to the woman at that moment.

Seeing this, Zhao Wu lowered his voice and said to the others, "Have you heard? I heard these newcomers all suffered from the same illness as Senior Brother Li in the past, but they've all recovered, which is why they were sent here to us."

Zhao Wu's words sparked a conversation, and the others under the tree immediately began discussing the new arrivals in Niuxin Village.

These people were quite peculiar. They were reluctant to interact with the villagers and usually lived secluded lives. Although occasionally encountered, sometimes they would suddenly burst into laughter while walking.

Using his chopsticks, Gouwa slapped away the monkey-child's hand reaching for the braised pork in his bowl, then asked with great surprise, "Senior Brother Li's illness can actually be cured? That's nonsense; I've never seen him get better."

"No, you're just an accountant, where did you get this information? It couldn't be Chun Xiaoman from the White Lotus Sect writing to tell you, could it?"

As soon as he heard the name Chun Xiaoman, Zhao Wu's expression immediately darkened. "Mind your own business," he snapped, "why are you so nosy?"

"Heh heh heh." Seeing that he had annoyed the other person, Gouwa immediately hugged his bowl and laughed impishly.

Just as Zhao Wu was about to retort, a horse-drawn carriage slowly approached on the only road leading out of the village.

The carriage was old, and so was the horse. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be the Lü Family Troupe's carriage, and the person sitting on it was none other than Scholar Lü.

"Scholar, where are you going?"

"Heh heh, where else would a scholar go? Naturally, he's off to the capital for the imperial examination."

"Go, go, go, don't talk nonsense!" Gouwa retorted, defending his old crony. "Ever since he came back last time, he's just holed himself up at home, neither studying nor farming nor cultivating. I don't know what's wrong with that kid."

"I asked him how his hands and feet grew back, but he wouldn't say."

"Did he encounter a spirit? Should we find a half-immortal to take a look?"

As they spoke, Scholar Lü arrived under the tree at the village entrance. Gouwa asked, "Scholar, where are you going?"

It was then that Gouwa noticed the Lü Family Troupe's prop boxes were also on the carriage. Not only that, but Juan'er was there, as well as his crazy father, Scholar Lü, the former imperial scholar. "Goodness, the whole family's here! Are you moving?"

Gouwa had just finished saying this with a smile when he suddenly thought of something, and his expression instantly turned startled. "You're not really going to move out of Niuxin Village, are you?"

Scholar Lü smiled silently, then shook his head. "It's nothing," he said. "I'm taking Xiu'er and my father out for a stroll, and also looking for my missing nephew, Student Lü."

"Hey, how long will it take you to find him by yourself?" someone chimed in. "For something like finding people, you should go to Junior Sister Bai. She's the head of the White Lotus Sect now; all White Lotus Sect followers across the land are under her command."

Hearing this, Scholar Lü recalled Bai Lingmiao, who was at times fragile and at times crazed. He then remembered the man-eating evil spirit he had seen that day, who was a follower of the White Lotus Sect. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

"No need," Scholar Lü said. "She's changed, and the White Lotus Sect has changed too. I don't understand it, and I don't want to. I've already written to Master; it's not something I should worry about anymore."

With that, Scholar Lü ignored the others' shouts. He pulled the carriage and walked towards the path leading out of the village. As the sound of hoofbeats clattered, Niuxin Village gradually disappeared from view.

"Deceiving the lonely king... like a small boat on the Yangtze River, tossed by wind and waves, waves and wind... cannot return..." The deranged Scholar Lü leaned against the prop box, a silly smile on his face, as he sang disjointed opera lyrics.

"Father," Scholar Lü said, "you were right before. We are just performers from the lowest ranks; there's no need for us to worry about matters of great importance."

"Since the cult is gone, and the revenge for Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law has been taken, we only need to worry about our own family matters from now on."

"Who cares about the emperor, who cares about the White Lotus Sect; they have nothing to do with our Lü Family Troupe. We'll just live our lives steadily."

"Father, don't worry. Since Student Lü wasn't found then, he must have just gotten lost, not died. We'll definitely find him."

"Once we find him, I'll teach Student Lü to sing opera, and we'll rebuild our Lü Family Troupe. Then we'll slowly save money; we won't rely on handouts from others, we'll earn it with our own hands!"

"When we've saved enough money, we'll buy an opera house. Father, what do you think? Isn't that good?"

As he said this, Scholar Lü turned his head to look at his father, the former imperial scholar, on the carriage, and saw that he was still leaning there, unresponsive.

Xiu'er stood up, took out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped the drool from her grandfather's mouth.

"Alright, then it's settled," Scholar Lü said. "It's finally my turn to take charge." After saying this, he quickened his pace, pulling the carriage forward.

The sound of hoofbeats gradually blended with new footsteps—the notably familiar sound of cloth shoes.

"Scholar, have you forgotten you still have a wife? Are you just planning to leave and abandon me?" a resentful female voice echoed from behind.

Scholar Lü did not turn back. "The Lü Family Troupe is no more," he said. "The land that was originally divided is all yours. With this land, you can live out your life in Niuxin Village."

"I haven't been a good husband; I've barely returned home all these years," he continued. "And though I bought you originally, I burned your deed of sale long ago. You are free."

"Scholar! But I'm your wife!"

"I am a White Donkey," Scholar Lü replied. "I swore an oath to the Unborn Mother that I would never marry. If I break my promise, the Unborn Mother will not spare me."

Scholar Lü closed his eyes tightly, his expression slightly conflicted, and said, "Go, go back. While you're still young, find someone else. A troupe cannot be followed by women. I cannot let you come with me. I cannot let you suffer the hardships my Eldest Sister-in-law endured."