Chapter 165
Standard room, one person, one bed. Xue Liangliang lay on the bed after showering.
Looking at his watch, Xue Liangliang said, "Xiao Yuan, we have to get up early tomorrow."
From his interactions at work today, it was clear that although Xue Liangliang's qualifications weren't the highest, his relationship with Worker Luo was the best. Only he could joke openly with Worker Luo at work. When Worker Luo went to meetings, he would play the role of organizing and assigning tasks.
"Okay."
Li Zhuiyuan spread out his quilt, lay down, and prepared to sleep.
Wrapped in his quilt, Xue Liangliang turned towards him and said, "Xiao Yuan, I still feel unreal."
"Okay."
Xue Liangliang: "It feels like everything happened so suddenly. Sometimes when I call my parents at home, I still feel like a child, but now, I'm going to have my own child very soon."
"Okay."
"Xiao Yuan, have you thought about being a father later? Sigh, why am I asking you this? You're still young and haven't reached the legal marriage age."
"Okay."
"I bought a lot of baby clothes during the day, both boys' and girls'. Xiao Yuan, what do you think, will it be a boy or a girl?"
"A boy."
Baijia Town should have a way to check the gender of a fetus in advance.
When Li Zhuiyuan considered himself from the perspective of being "used," he could only calculate towards the worst-case scenario: that the bride was pregnant with a male infant.
Xue Liangliang would never use her up and then kill her; this was the consensus in Baijia Town.
But according to tradition, the male infant in the belly should be dealt with.
The only possibility was that the bride's true purpose, which also showed from the side that she genuinely cared for Xue Liangliang and wanted to protect the crystallization of their love, was different.
"A thousand years waiting, waiting once; a thousand years waiting, I have no regrets~"
On the TV, they were introducing the popular drama "New Legend of the White Snake" from the mainland.
Li Zhuiyuan felt they should swap Ye Tong and Zhao Yazhi out and let Xue Liangliang and his wife act in it.
"Xiao Yuan..."
"Brother, we have to get up early tomorrow."
"Oh, right."
Xue Liangliang got out of bed to turn off the TV and the lights.
Li Zhuiyuan's schedule was very regular; he was used to getting up early no matter when he went to sleep. When the sky was just beginning to lighten, he opened his eyes and gently sat up in bed.
He had just finished washing up when he saw Xue Liangliang also getting up.
"Xiao Yuan, you're up really early."
"I'm used to it."
"I'm also used to it. Whenever I'm with Worker Luo, my schedule immediately becomes very standard."
After tidying up, the two walked out of the room.
Xiong Shan came over and said, "Wait a moment, I'll let Li Hua go buy breakfast."
"It's too early, the breakfast shops aren't open yet." Xue Liangliang waved his hand, "We'll eat at the guesthouse, you guys take care of yourselves. Oh, just in case, keep renewing the room fee and have the boss issue an invoice."
Liu Changping was called up, rubbed his eyes, and went to drive first without even washing up.
Xue Liangliang took out two packs of cigarettes from his bag and handed one to Liu Changping: "Thanks for your hard work, brother."
Liu Changping took the cigarettes and laughed, "This is nothing. We're used to this job."
He opened a pack, took one out, and handed the rest back to Xue Liangliang.
Xue Liangliang just left them all in the car and patted Xiong Shan's leg casually.
After arriving at the guesthouse, Xue Liangliang led Li Zhuiyuan in.
The guesthouse breakfast opened early, and Worker Luo and the others were already sitting and eating.
Xue Liangliang and Li Zhuiyuan got some porridge, pickled vegetables, and eggs, and sat down to eat together.
Li Zhuiyuan was already familiar with his senior brothers; they were all a relatively simple group of people.
They had two most obvious characteristics:
One was that they all looked much older than their actual age.
The other was that they were generally all unmarried and hadn't even dated anyone.
After finishing their meal, everyone was collectively arranged to sit on a large bus and went back to the construction site near Gaoyou Lake.
The layout of the construction site was the same as yesterday, except there were more non-construction personnel than yesterday.
Worker Luo was invited to a meeting as soon as he arrived. Xue Liangliang led everyone to double-check the work completed yesterday.
At ten o'clock, Worker Luo returned from the meeting, first checked everyone's work results, and nodded: "Everyone can rest."
Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang walked out of the work tent, came outside, and the two walked forward, climbing a small earth slope.
Xue Liangliang squatted down, took out a cigarette, lit it, and said:
"Xiao Yuan, our work is like this; sometimes we do a lot of things that seem useless afterward, but that's also being responsible."
"Okay, I understand."
Li Zhuiyuan's attention was drawn to the surface of the lake in the distance; three ships were stopped there, and from time to time, divers went down from the ships, and people floated out onto the ships.
If this could still be considered normal, then on the edge of the lake in the northwest direction, Li Zhuiyuan saw an altar table, a group of people who seemed to be burning incense, and after inserting the incense into the censer, they successively went into the water.
Some people just brought a flotation bag, while others simply went into the water with bare upper bodies and completely empty hands, disappearing quickly like fish after entering the water.
It seemed that the investigation into the special dragon waterspout phenomenon the day before yesterday had already begun and might have started even earlier than he arrived.
Xue Liangliang followed Li Zhuiyuan's gaze and said:
"It's normal. Sometimes during construction, we encounter some special situations, and a special team will come over to assist with handling them. The external name is generally geological survey or archaeological protection."
At noon, boxed meals were delivered to the construction site.
There were no special categories of people; whoever was hungry would just go get one and casually find a place to stand or squat and eat.
The dishes were simple: one green bean with pickled vegetables, one stir-fried green vegetable, plus braised meat with gluten. Gluten occupied the majority, and there were only a few pieces of meat.
But for some reason, the white foam plastic box matched with rough disposable chopsticks made one lose their appetite at first glance.
After lunch, arrangements were made for personnel to withdraw.
The first to withdraw were the original construction site workers. Due to confidentiality reasons, everyone didn't know exactly what happened, and since the New Year was approaching, no one was particularly willing to leave the construction site at this time.
Fortunately, a relevant leader stepped forward to guarantee, and the relevant person in charge of the construction site advanced the year-end wage distribution, which made the workers happily leave first.
Xue Liangliang pursed his lips and said, "It's all not easy. Coming out to work this year, the most afraid thing is delays and unpaid wages. Our guarantee in this aspect is indeed not in place yet; we must find a way to continue promoting implementation."
Li Zhuiyuan unscrewed a bottle of water and took a sip. His attention fell on the large trucks driving in, and on the lake surface, several more ships had appeared.
As the relevant personnel successively withdrew, Worker Luo's team was among the last few batches. As they got back on the large bus and drove out, a "boom boom boom!" sound came from the lake surface.
The people on the bus discussed among themselves:
"Was that an explosion?"
"Um, it should be an explosion in the lake."
"Is it that kind of depth charge?"
"The kind in movies that blows up submarines?"
"My god, that thing really exists?"
"Speaking of which, can it be blown out?"
"Even if it's blown out, you can't see it. Look, that side is all under martial law. After martial law is lifted, it will definitely all be cleaned up."
"I really want to stay and see for myself; it'll be good material for bragging when I go on blind dates later, saves having nothing to talk about."
Worker Luo couldn't help but cough several times forcefully, and the large bus immediately quieted down. Everyone consciously sat up straight and no longer spoke.
As they approached the guesthouse, Worker Luo first stood up and came to the front of the bus, turning around to face everyone inside the bus:
"What should be said and what shouldn't be said, I think you all know in your hearts. Pay attention, keep your mouths shut, and also have some political awareness in your hearts."
Everyone responded in unison.
After getting off, Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang were called into Worker Luo's room.
From Worker Luo's expression, today's matter was still not really strange or serious in his work career. His initial tell about the Jilin Goguryeo tomb might have been much more serious than this time.
The simple chat was for preparation.
"Xiao Yuan, you probably won't spend much time in school next semester."
"I know, Teacher. I also want to go out and do things."
"Um, no matter how well you learn, you still have to go out and practice more. Theory needs to be combined with practice.
After the New Year, I will let Liangliang lead a group by himself. Wherever technical support or assistance is needed, he'll go there. Don't be afraid of hardship then, go around more.
Liangliang, Xiao Yuan is still young, you must take good care of him."
"Hehe, rest assured, I will."
Xue Liangliang responded with a laugh. He knew very well that when he really took Xiao Yuan out, he didn't know who would be taking care of whom.
Worker Luo saw him being cheeky and couldn't help but scold him: "Stinky boy, be serious."
Xue Liangliang immediately puffed out his chest.
Speaking of which, when he stood up straight and serious, this image was really quite good, just like the standard characters on a New Year's print. No wonder he could make the lady from Baijia fall in love.
Worker Luo put down his teacup, reached out to help Xue Liangliang straighten his crooked collar, and said with a heavy heart:
"Be more steady, be more responsible, and always remember that the things we do, while not achieving the merits of Li Bing for a thousand years, must at least be ensured for a hundred years. You cannot forget the sense of responsibility you have."
Xue Liangliang nodded forcefully: "I know, Teacher."
Li Zhuiyuan knew that this was actually a kind of preparation. At his age, being able to lead a team out alone was a qualification and a step up each time.
This was an opportunity for practice that ordinary people looked forward to but couldn't get. Most importantly, the results of this practice could ensure complete realization in the future.
He himself was also benefiting from Brother Liangliang; otherwise, with his age and still being in his freshman year, even if Worker Luo wanted to give him special training, there would really be no way to start.
But this also meant that his future experiences on the river would become more complex and diverse.
The scope of questions asked by the questioner would be broader, and the waves he faced would also be more dangerous.
However, Li Zhuiyuan didn't feel scared in his heart; instead, he was very expectant, and even now, he had a kind of eagerness to try.
Worker Luo: "I'm going back to Jinling. Do you want to come back? You can take my car."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Teacher, I'm already on winter vacation."
Xue Liangliang: "Teacher, I want to go home and see."
"Um, then wait well at home to celebrate the New Year. I have a premonition that when we get truly busy later, going home to celebrate a peaceful New Year with family will be a luxury."
The two accompanied Worker Luo downstairs and watched him get in the car and leave. Xue Liangliang let out a long breath and said to Li Zhuiyuan, "Xiao Yuan, Worker Luo is right. You'll be very busy next year, and you'll have fewer opportunities to go home."
Li Zhuiyuan glanced at Xue Liangliang.
Xue Liangliang's face turned red.
Though there was no sound, there was communication.
No matter how busy, it doesn't stop you from constantly going back to Nantong to jump in the river, much less does it stop you from making a child.
However, this couldn't be blamed on Xue Liangliang; he always took the time to go back to Nantong during project gaps or meeting gaps.
He came in a hurry and left in a hurry, truly not delaying work.
"Xiao Yuan, what do you say, how about I bring my parents to Nantong to celebrate the New Year this year?"
"That's very good. Uncle and Aunt probably haven't seen the sea yet."
Xue Liangliang's old face turned red again.
"But it seems that just calling them here for a trip isn't a strong enough reason?"
"Just say you have a project in Nantong and are very busy, so you can't go back home for the New Year. Let them come here to accompany you for the New Year."
"That can work."
"Also, soften your tone a bit on the phone and say you want to get married earlier."
Xue Liangliang grabbed Li Zhuiyuan's face and gave the boy a "bar ji" kiss on the head.
"A genius brain is just good!"
Li Zhuiyuan sighed, lifted his sleeve, and wiped his head.
Given the anxiety of Xue's dad and Xue's mom about Xue Liangliang's marriage, even if it was just to come to urge their son to get married in person for the New Year, they would be willing to come from their hometown.
Li Zhuiyuan had contact with Xue's dad and Xue's mom. The old couple was living happily but also very depressed; their son was too promising, which conversely made them lose the capital to control their son.
Liu Changping's taxi followed the large bus to the outskirts of the construction site in the morning and followed it back to the guesthouse when it came out.
So after the two left the guesthouse, they got directly into the car.
Xiong Shan asked, "Shall we two stay and continue investigating?"
Li Zhuiyuan waved his hand: "No need."
This matter here already had official intervention.
After all, the Xiong Shan couple wasn't his direct team, and most of his direct team were recuperating from injuries.
Furthermore, the Xiong Shan couple had already given up lightly for the second time; it wasn't suitable to pull them into his waves again.
Compared to that, Li Zhuiyuan was still used to his team being in a complete state.
Additionally, for the New Year, seeing the two waves in front of him all seriously advancing, the questioner would at least have a tacit understanding and let him take a break to have a good New Year.
Um, even if the questioner wasn't well-intentioned, if he stayed in Nantong, with the one in the Peach Tree Forest, ordinary waves couldn't get through.
Xue Liangliang directed Liu Changping to go to Zhen Guo Temple before leaving Gaoyou.
Zhen Guo Temple had a long history, built in the Tang Dynasty, also called West Tower, and enjoyed the reputation of the "Southern Big Wild Goose Pagoda."
There was no entrance fee.
A group of people walked in. The temple wasn't big, a simple visit was fine, but when they reached the place for burning incense, Xue Liangliang asked everyone if they wanted to burn incense.
Since they had come, the Xiong Shan couple indicated they wanted to burn incense, and Liu Changping also raised his hand.
Only Li Zhuiyuan waved his hand to indicate no.
Buying incense cost money. Xue Liangliang bought four portions of incense.
Li Zhuiyuan stood from a distance, but he could still hear their prayers while burning incense.
As soon as Xue Liangliang opened his mouth, he prayed for "peace in the country and security for the people, timely wind and rain."
He was always like this, no matter whether he spoke loudly or prayed in a low voice, he didn't mind exposing this kind of inner voice.
He knew very well that expressing some advocacy and ideas clearly in the present was easy to receive special gazes, but he didn't mind, and even, completely didn't mind those who criticized.
Then the second one, he started to pray for "mother and child safety," as if afraid of making the Buddha mistakenly think he favored boys over girls, he added a sentence "mother and daughter safety."
It would still be better if that Baijia lady gave birth to a son.
If she gave birth to a son, she could throw it out. If she gave birth to a daughter... Li Zhuiyuan felt that at that time, he would have to make another trip to help threaten.
He just didn't know how long the Baijia lady's pregnancy period was. Their kind of existence, which seemed neither human nor inhuman, had a pregnancy period that was really hard to calculate.
As soon as Li Hua opened her mouth, she prayed for her son, but she was bumped by Xiong Shan with his arm, corrected, and then together they first started to pray for the Dragon King family.
Li Zhuiyuan knew that Xiong Shan had already detected that his hearing was very good.
These two people, from the beginning, didn't hide their utilitarian hearts, but because of this, they could instead get along more easily. For their son, they could be utilitarian, and at the same time, they could be incomparably loyal.
After praying for the Dragon King family, the Xiong Shan couple started to seek protection for their son.
Liu Changping was relatively simple; he prayed that he could get married earlier.
He originally thought it would end so simply, but who knew that his next sentence would make the corner of Li Zhuiyuan's mouth twitch involuntarily.
Liu Changping: "I hope my brother Xue Liangliang can get out of the pain of losing his wife and son early and welcome a new life."
This proved again that Tan Wenbin's ability to read people was really quite accurate; Liu Changping was indeed a true-hearted person.
After the prayers and burning of incense, the crowd prepared to leave.
At the main exit, stood an old monk wearing a kasaya, holding a Zen staff, with a solemn Dharma appearance.
Under normal circumstances, the old monk wouldn't dress so formally.
Xue Liangliang and Liu Changping walked ahead to get the car. Xiong Shan and Li Hua stopped in front of the old monk and stared at him.
When Li Zhuiyuan walked over, the old monk bowed to Li Zhuiyuan: "Amitabha."
Li Zhuiyuan: "Do you know who I am?"
"Donor is joking, this old monk does not know."
"Then are you not waiting for me?"
"This old monk is waiting for the donor, yet not the donor. When a heavenly phenomenon reveals a dragon, there is naturally a true dragon walking the earth and observing. This old monk is waiting for this human auspicious sign."
"Then you are indeed not waiting for me."
"Past, present, future, all are within oneself. When the donor looks back later, you will see that this old monk was waiting here."
"Oh."
"Donor did not burn incense."
"Um."
"This old monk will pray for the donor."
"I also wish you, Grandpa Monk, good health."
The old monk bowed again, and in a sound of "Amitabha," the two passed each other.
After Li Zhuiyuan left, the old monk's body suddenly went soft. The two young novices who had been sent far away and the two old security guards sitting at the main entrance immediately ran over to support the old monk.
Amidst sounds of concern and inquiry, the old monk slowly opened his eyes, looked around the environment, and re-examined the kasaya on his body and the Zen staff in his hand. The old monk doubted:
"I just took a nap, how did I end up here?"
...
When they returned to Siyuan Village from Gaoyou, it was already near dusk.
Xiao Yingying hugged the child and sat on the dam, facing the sunset.
Li Hua took the child from Xiao Yingying's arms, hugged and coaxed it, and then handed it over to her husband.
After Xiong Shan teased the child, he handed the child back to Li Hua. Li Hua gently pinched the child's butt with her hand, and the child cried out.
Li Hua took the opportunity to put the child back into Xiao Yingying's arms.
The child immediately stopped crying.
Li Hua: "Look, the child is attached to you."
Xiao Yingying hugged the child, her gaze calm and cold.
Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Where is my great-grandfather?"
Xiao Yingying: "Gone to Blind Man's house."
Li Sanjiang went to Liu Jinxia's house. He probably had something to discuss. As the only two funeral practitioners in Siyuan Village, they would sometimes introduce business to each other or work together to earn quick money.
Li Hua went to prepare dinner. Xiong Shan first picked up a hoe, saw that the sky was already late, so he put down the hoe, pushed out the three-wheeler and flatbed cart from the house, and wiped them with well water.
Li Zhuiyuan looked at Xue Liangliang and then pointed at the taxi.
Xue Liangliang: "Not going today."
"Oh."
Li Zhuiyuan wanted to make a phone call. Xue Liangliang and Liu Changping followed him.
Arriving at Aunt Zhang's small shop, Li Zhuiyuan picked up the receiver and dialed the phone inside the convenience store.
Lu Yi answered the phone. Li Zhuiyuan asked him to call Yin Meng.
"Hello, Brother Xiao Yuan, it's me."
"Prepare yourselves a bit, drive back with them."
"Okay, Brother Xiao Yuan."
"Also, help me tell Grandma Liu that my great-grandfather invites them back for the New Year."
"Will do."
Li Zhuiyuan hung up the phone.
Xue Liangliang picked it up to continue dialing. He needed to call Min'an Town. Just as he was about to ask the other side to call his parents, the phone was hung up.
After waiting five minutes, Xue Liangliang dialed again and then started talking with his father.
The call was a bit long, but the progress was very smooth. After hanging up, Xue Liangliang laughed: "My parents have agreed to come here for the New Year."
"No need, Big Beard's house is still empty. I'll let Xiong Shan and his family live there at that time to vacate the west room for your parents."
"Is that suitable?"
"Suitable."
Big Beard's house was really not suitable for ordinary people to live in; after all, it was considered a haunted house.
But if the Xiong Shan couple went there to celebrate the New Year with the one under the Peach Forest, they should be willing and could also draw closer the relationship.
Liu Changping glanced at the pager on his waist, then also picked up the phone. After dialing, he talked for a long time about the betrothal gifts.
After he hung up, Xue Liangliang handed him a cigarette and asked concernedly, "How was it?"
Liu Changping took out his lighter, first helped Xue Liangliang light his cigarette, then lit his own, and said, "My younger brother-in-law is back from the army and knows about his sister's impending marriage. He's throwing a tantrum at home, saying he absolutely doesn't want his sister's betrothal gift money."
Xue Liangliang: "Congratulations, your pressure is reduced, but you'll have to give more later."
Liu Changping nodded and laughed, "But I'm willing to give."
At this time, Li Sanjiang walked over from the village road. He was wearing the new clothes Xiao Yuan Hou had bought for him, and the pen was still clipped in his chest pocket.
Seeing the people standing in front of the small store, Li Sanjiang deliberately puffed out his chest, put his hands behind his back, and raised his head.
Xue Liangliang clapped his hands and said, "Aiya, isn't this the village chief?"
Li Sanjiang: "Let's go home and eat."
During dinner, Xue Liangliang proactively talked to Li Sanjiang about his future work arrangements and also said that Xiao Yuan would be traveling around with him next year.
After hearing this, Li Sanjiang looked at Li Zhuiyuan with some heartache and said:
"It's good to go around more, it trains people. I can tell, this is an opportunity your teachers are giving you."
He paused, then patted Xue Liangliang's hand on the back and said, "Liang Hou, when you're out, you have to take good care of him."
Xue Liangliang immediately nodded in agreement. He knew very well that when he took Xiao Yuan out, it would be himself who would be taken care of.
Subsequently, Xue Liangliang also told Li Sanjiang about bringing his parents over for the New Year.
"It's good for them to come. For the New Year, the more people, the better; it's lively that way, and that's what the New Year means."
Midnight, all was silent.
Xue Liangliang sat up from the bed, tiptoed down, and put on his clothes.
After he walked out of the room, Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall: 12:03.
Brother Liangliang said he wouldn't go see her today, but now it was already a new day.
Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the room and came to the balcony, seeing a car parked on the village road ahead. The red light on the roof of the car clearly showed it was a taxi.
Xue Liangliang sat in the car.
Liu Changping asked, "Still going there?"
Xue Liangliang nodded: "Yes, still missing them."
Liu Changping sighed, started the car, and while driving said, "Brother, you still have to be more open-minded, think more about your parents. Life is still very long."
"That's what I'm worried about; I'm just thinking about how to explain it to my parents later."
Liu Changping didn't dare to advise him further. The hands holding the steering wheel were already seeping sweat.
This person really didn't want to live and was still thinking of suicide.
After the taxi drove away, Li Zhuiyuan glanced at the moon in the sky.
Just at this time, Xiao Yingying's figure appeared on the balcony, still holding the child in her arms.
She was awake, and the child was also awake. A pair of bright black eyes were curiously looking around.
Perhaps seeing Li Zhuiyuan's earlier action of looking up, he also learned to kick his legs, raise his head, and glance at the moon in the sky.
Li Zhuiyuan could tell that this child was truly smart, but his intelligence was not excessive.
He just had stronger perception and curiosity about this world, unlike himself at that time, who had already departed from that category early on.
He remembered that every time someone praised his intelligence, Li Lan's eyebrows would slightly furrow. There was even a period of time when he would deliberately act a bit stupid.
Then he discovered that Li Lan was even more angry about this.
She didn't want to confirm that he had inherited her illness.
She just purely didn't want her son to be a freak who was too smart and at the same time couldn't accept that her son wasn't smart enough.
Xiao Yingying continued to hold the child with one hand and pointed towards Big Beard's house with the other.
The one under the Peach Forest wanted to see him.
Li Zhuiyuan nodded and went downstairs.
When he reached the door of the west room, the door of the west room opened from the inside. Xiong Shan and Li Hua were already waiting there.
They were also always paying attention to the movements outside the room they lived in. They didn't care about Xue Liangliang going out, but they couldn't ignore Li Zhuiyuan's footsteps.
"Let's go together, bring the offerings and incense candles."
"Okay!"
Xiao Yingying didn't follow along but hugged the child and lay back in the coffin to sleep.
Li Zhuiyuan brought the Xiong Shan couple to Big Beard's house.
The altar table was set up, and Li Zhuiyuan stood beside to watch. The sacrifice ceremony was hosted by Xiong Shan.
Xiong Shan's attitude was very proper, and the ceremony was meticulous.
Li Hua bowed beside him, still reciting the words to protect her son in her mouth.
It was as if what they were worshipping at this time was not a terrifying evil spirit but a Peach Blossom Immortal.
However, who could be sure who was an immortal and who was an evil spirit?
Sometimes, this kind of existence was originally just two sides of the same coin.
Li Zhuiyuan stood quietly.
Until, the candles on the altar table began to shake, and peach blossoms floated down towards them.
Xiong Shan and Li Hua's faces showed excitement. One burned paper and recited scriptures more vigorously, while the other prayed more excitedly for her son.
Li Zhuiyuan looked at the black, dark, and deep peach forest in front of him. This guy was quite interesting. He didn't know why he changed his style tonight, actually creating a bit of artistic conception.
But thinking about it, it shouldn't be to specially take care of Xiong Shan and Li Hua, because they didn't deserve it.
So, was the one under the Peach Forest interested in that child?
After all, that child had been held in Xiao Yingying's arms for the past two days, and Xiao Yingying was its ghost. In theory, it could gain all of Xiao Yingying's perceptions.
If this were truly the case, then it had to be said that this was the great opportunity that the Xiong Shan couple had diligently sought.
Although that one couldn't compare to the Dragon King family, and its current state was very poor, a thin dead camel is still bigger than a horse. After all, it was once a follower of Wei Zhengdao.
Li Zhuiyuan entered the state of walking yin, and then in the state of walking yin, he walked down the dam and walked into the peach forest.
In the originally black peach forest, two strings of lanterns appeared, emitting a dim light.
That one stood there, side-on.
Li Zhuiyuan stopped after walking a certain distance.
Continuing to walk forward was not suitable. It wanted to face him side-on, because its front face would constantly change, and at the same time, the back of its head also had a face that was changing non-stop.
Since it wanted to present a slightly more normal image, he naturally had to give this face.
At the same time, this also proved that it truly had ignited a certain hope in its heart.
Because only those with inner pursuits and ties would pay attention to their own image.
However, it didn't speak, continuing to maintain a side-on standing posture, silent.
Li Zhuiyuan took the initiative to speak: "That child is not bad."
That one continued not to speak.
Li Zhuiyuan: "A quite smart child. He sees the world from a young age and has merit in his body."
That one still didn't speak.
Li Zhuiyuan: "The child hasn't formally taken a big name yet. His parents' meaning is to find a godfather or master to name the child."
That one still didn't speak.
Li Zhuiyuan felt a slight antipathy in his heart: Where does this arrogant temper come from?
The boy couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious. Wasn't Wei Zhengdao originally unable to stand this kind of affectation from him, deliberately passing on the black skin book secret method to him so that he could find a place to bury himself and seek peace?
However, letting this one have more ties with reality was in Li Zhuiyuan's interest.
If it was really willing to recognize a child and accept a disciple, that would be equivalent to adding a layer of unbreakable insurance behind him.
Even the ancestor homes and main gates of those big families and sects wouldn't use this level of gatekeeper, right?
Indeed, its past existence did protect the peace of this area, and the dead who floated here all had to reverse their flow and change direction.
But this was not its original intention; it just existed here and played an existing role. People might not truly be willing to be the local deity of this land.
Li Zhuiyuan spoke: "This child, isn't he like the past you, very smart, yet not truly the smartest one?"
Its body began to tremble.
Li Zhuiyuan knew he was right.
It hated Wei Zhengdao the most, yet cared about Wei Zhengdao the most.
As for this kind of description, it was truly not difficult. This one must have once been a generation of outstanding talent, but in front of Wei Zhengdao, any genius would immediately become dim.
On this point, Li Zhuiyuan could easily relate.
It felt something for Xiong Shan's son, perhaps also because that child appeared beside it.
Finally,
It spoke: "Let's be frank."
"Um?"
"Did you see him?"
"How did you see that?"
Li Zhuiyuan didn't deny it. Although he didn't remember, he could almost confirm that he had indeed seen Wei Zhengdao.
"After you came back this time, your confidence is different."
"Was I very unconfident before? For better or worse, I am also the successor of two families of Dragon Kings."
"Are those your things?"
"Why not?"
"From the bottom of your heart, do you really think those are your things?"
"I am working hard and gradually recognizing them."
"So, at least currently, those are still not your things. Then tell me, where does your current confidence truly come from?"
Li Zhuiyuan was silent.
It continued to say: "You may not be able to detect it, but I see it clearly here. Including your posture standing in front of me now, it's all so obvious."
"Okay, I admit it, you are right."
Li Zhuiyuan could feel its excitement at this moment; it eagerly wanted to know news about Wei Zhengdao.
If he told it that he had forgotten.
It might not have Liu grandma's good temper; it would go mad and peel many people into white boiled shrimp.
It could do this kind of thing because its control over itself was still questionable to some extent. Once its emotions were out of control, it was the biggest source of threat.
"He is indeed still not dead?"
Li Zhuiyuan wanted to start making things up.
He felt that during the period he lost his memory, he should have thought about this question when facing Wei Zhengdao, and even mentioned it to Wei Zhengdao.
Out of rational trust in himself, he believed that he would definitely have a plan at that time. If there was truly no trace, then it was... there was no need for a trace.
Thinking of this, Li Zhuiyuan felt no burden in his heart.
"He's dead."
"Dead? Then how did you see him?"
"You know, people like him are very hard to kill completely."
"Indeed."
"He thought of many methods to self-destruct and struggled for a long time."
"Normal."
After a short silence, it took the initiative to speak: "Did he mention me?"
"Mentioned."
"What did he say?"
"He said you were as stupid as a guard dog that would be tricked."
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Li Zhuiyuan deliberately made this up because he knew what he wanted it to do, and it also knew what he wanted it to do.
Now, he was nothing more than borrowing Wei Zhengdao's mouth to "say" this purpose.
Would it get angry, rage because of this, and deliberately go against him?
No.
It was very dangerous, very terrible, but its character was also very easy to guess.
Especially when he finally had confidence and stood in front of it calmly, the "personality" heights of both were leveled. There was no mysterious, unreachable veil or fog blocking his vision, and he saw more clearly.
It: "He's not wrong. Aren't I now?"
Li Zhuiyuan smiled without speaking, his mind quickly thinking about the answer to the next question.
Not unexpectedly, it should ask: What else did he say?
He had to come up with a perfect answer that not only made it feel profound but also satisfied it enough to end this line of questioning about Wei Zhengdao. He wanted it to feel that after getting this answer, there was no need to continue asking.
Because he hadn't recovered the specific memory of seeing Wei Zhengdao, he really couldn't stand excessive detailed questions. Asking a few more questions would easily expose flaws.
The silence was broken again.
It: "What else did he say?"
Li Zhuiyuan: "He asked me to bring you a message."
"What message?"
"Sorry."
