Chapter 114

Seeing Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng talking, Xue Ba stood up and said, "Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, you two go ahead and chat."

"Uncle Xue, I'm sorry, I have a little matter to attend to here."

"Oh, no worries at all, as it happens, I have things to do too."

Xue Ba chuckled as he picked up his tools and went to tidy up the potted plants arranged in the courtyard.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had noticed when he arrived yesterday that there were quite a few potted plants in the house, along with several small stone tables used to arrange them into landscapes.

The Xue family's contracted farmland had long been rented out by Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang, which allowed the elderly couple to step away from traditional rural labor and enjoy their retirement early.

In his spare time, Xue Ba's hobby was tending to these potted plants, and otherwise, he would go to the long corridor to drink tea and listen to storytelling.

Xue Ma would go out after lunch to play long cards; her card partners were all elderly ladies, and she was quite the youngster among them.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, let's go upstairs."

"Alright."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan went upstairs and sat down at the desk Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang used to use.

Taking a notebook and pen from his backpack, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan drew three circles on a blank page.

Three groups of people, all arrived in Min'an Town, yet they were three different Min'an Towns.

This was a development Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had not anticipated before setting off.

Was it the miasma of an evil spirit?

Was it a formation of the Profound Sect?

Or was it a spatial interlayer he had experienced before? Or perhaps some other rare mystery of the natural world?

Not long ago, during club recruitment on the playground, the club president who liked to introduce UFOs had talked about many unsolved mysteries from around the world.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, letting the warm sunlight stream through the window and cover his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

Because he couldn't contact Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin and Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng and lacked too much information, he had no way to deduce anything right now.

Moreover, he suspected that abnormal things must have already happened where Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin were.

Because the normalcy here for him... was actually a form of extreme abnormality.

Was it because of Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang's status as the son-in-law of the Bai family that the development of this thread had slowed down?

He didn't rule out the influence of this factor, but Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't feel it was the main cause.

Last time, when Jingjing at his master's wife's house was possessed, Jingjing showed an aversion to the Bai family aura on Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang, but it was only to the extent of aversion; if she really intended to do something to him, she would still do it. Even Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang himself was like that, let alone his family.

Therefore, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan suspected that his own thread was meant to be the slowest to unfold.

Wu Pangzi's prospective parents-in-law were already ill, and that friend of Fan Shulin's had also divorced; these two threads had actually already shown heterodox changes.

Xue Ba's fiftieth birthday was next month, and Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang, who could be involved in this thread, was still in Dujiangyan; he would have to finish his work or take leave before he could come back to host his father's birthday... and most likely, he would have to return to Nantong first before going back to his hometown.

It was that he had come too early.

But this was not a mistake, because this was an advantage he had specifically fought for.

The current situation was equivalent to the entire team being covered by a huge black cloth, unable to see each other, but it wasn't a big problem; blind fighting also had its methods, and it wasn't as if he hadn't been blind before.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng."

"Yes."

Seeing Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan deep in thought, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng consciously stood at the room's entrance, holding a "cigar" in his hand, which he was currently smoking.

He walked to the desk and asked, "Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, have you thought of a way to find Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin and Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "No."

"Then..."

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, I need you to help me think together."

"Me?" Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng pointed the "cigar" tip at his own Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face, "I'll do my best."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan asked: "Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, if you were replaced by Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng or Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin, after you arrived in Min'an Town and settled down, what is the first thing you would think of?"

"I would come to find you, Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan."

"What if you couldn't find me, or even, couldn't find out about the Xue family?"

"I..."

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, would you leave Min'an Town? After all, there's a problem here, and we can't contact the outside world."

"No, we came here specifically for the problem. I wouldn't leave Min'an Town; I would continue to do what I can according to your prior plan and instructions, pushing the clues forward, in the hope of meeting you later to report."

"So, Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin should be doing the same thing."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng scratched his head and asked: "Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, do you need to ask me these things?"

"I do, I need to confirm, because my sense of immersion is prone to distortion."

He was the task planner, and the constraints of the plan were much lower for him; after all, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't have a "Brother Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan" above his head.

Therefore, in this situation, his countermeasures would be more extreme.

For example, to prove it, since there are three Min'an Towns, are the townspeople he sees in this Min'an Town real living people?

He could find a village bully who committed crimes and escaped legal sanctions or ran rampant in the countryside, and while acting on behalf of heaven, observe their death.

He could also ask whose family had an elderly person or patient on the verge of death and watch their final moments.

Even if the people of Min'an Town were simple and honest and currently healthy, he could still inquire whose family had a new grave, dig it up, and find a fresh corpse to conduct an experiment.

Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Zhengdao's "Record of Righteousness Subduing Demons" recorded such a passage:

"People are the easiest contrast objects to find flaws in; one can find the characteristics of the complex environment here from the 'people' here."

But obviously, it was unlikely that Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin would do this.

Therefore, to ensure the consistency of the style of action across the three threads, he had to cooperate and follow their behavior in order to form a combined force.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan picked up his pen and quickly drew a sloppy fish in his notebook.

The pen tip kept tapping lightly on this fish.

In fact, there were many things he could do; he could use formations, feng shui, or the Qi family's mechanical arts to seek a more violent breakthrough.

It seemed very difficult, but he wasn't trying to tear down a house, just wanted to punch a hole in the corner of the wall, so the feasibility was still quite high.

Regardless of what the principle of this environment was, he could study it and then try to poke it for you.

Looking at the "fish" in front of him, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan said in his heart:

"Do you also want me to do this?"

This fish had played a trick of "the willing fish taking the bait" on him.

Its subjectivity was an unavoidable problem, but this problem had two sides, because you couldn't confirm which side was its intention and which side was its deliberate guidance.

When facing such a situation, there was a method that best ensured the lower limit, which was to ignore its existence and intention; you only needed to proceed firmly according to the plan you originally thought was correct.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan closed the notebook.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng spoke up: "Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, I'm worried about Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin; if he is really encountering something, I'm afraid he won't be able to handle it alone."

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, I have more confidence in Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng nodded in disagreement.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng's skills are indeed better than Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin's, but when facing a special environment, Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin is better at utilizing the environment than Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng."

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, you're right."

"Alright, Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, there's no point in worrying about them now; we should focus our energy on what we should be doing."

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, tell me, what should we do now?"

"According to my deduction, we should still have a long gap period; what we need to do now is to shorten this gap period and make the things that should happen in the future happen in advance.

For example... let Uncle Xue celebrate his fiftieth birthday in advance."

Lunch was still sumptuous.

While eating, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took the initiative to say: "Uncle Xue, Auntie Xue, after we finish eating, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and I are going out to sketch, and we'll be back quite late, so you don't need to wait for us for dinner."

Xue Ba asked in surprise: "So late?"

"Yes, I want to draw for a while longer; I can use it in class."

Xue Ma asked Xue Ba suspiciously: "Why didn't our Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang draw when he was there?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan explained: "Although Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang and I are at the same university, our majors are different, and some courses require you to choose them yourself."

"Oh, is that so." Xue Ma nodded, but still added, "It's okay, we'll wait for you to come back for dinner."

Xue Ba retorted: "Don't talk about waiting; if the child is worried, he won't be able to focus on drawing.

How about this, Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, you can come back as late as you want, but be careful. I'll leave the door unlocked for you, and the food will be in the pot; when you come back, just light the stove and heat it up to eat."

"Alright, thank you, Uncle and Auntie."

"Hehe, this child, what are you thanking us for? We treat you like our own child."

After the meal, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng went out.

Xue Ma tidied up the bowls and chopsticks and said to her husband: "Then... I'm going to play cards?"

Guests had arrived at home, so daily entertainment activities naturally had to stop; they couldn't neglect the guests.

"Go ahead, the children won't be back until night anyway." Xue Ba waved his hand, "I'm going to take a nap, and then go drink tea and listen to stories."

Xue Ma took off her apron, took some small change, and went out in high spirits.

Xue Ba went upstairs, walked into the bedroom, turned on the electric fan, lay down on the bed, and began to take a nap.

The courtyard gate hadn't been locked, and after being pushed open, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng returned.

They hadn't done nothing while they were out; Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had gone to the shop to buy some things and signaled Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng to take them and mix them with water according to the proportions.

Then, he went upstairs first, arrived at the door of Xue Ba's bedroom, heard the steady light snoring inside, and knew that Xue Ba had already entered a state of sleep.

Softly opening the bedroom door and walking in, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took out a Cleansing Heart Talisman and stuck it on Xue Ba's forehead.

At this moment, Xue Pa entered a better state of sleep.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan gripped his right hand slightly and tapped Xue Pa's forehead with his ring finger knuckle.

The better state of sleep, combined with the sobering effect of the finger-trembling resonance, formed a kind of counter-balance.

Xue Pa's eyelids began to tremble slightly.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan tapped him again; Xue Pa's eyelids peeled open a sliver, revealing the eyes within.

That's about right, this is the state—similar to a "lucid dream"; although he is sleeping, he still possesses a certain perception of the surrounding objects.

This state will not last too long; Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan must seize the time.

He leaned his mouth toward Xue Pa's ear and began to speak in an inducing tone:

"The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Derivation is forty-nine; do not celebrate a round-number birthday, and your children's fortune will remain stable; if a gap of over a month is broken, your offspring will come to complete it.

This Daoist travels the world, passing through the Xue gate today, and having heard that the family style is pure and Xue Lang is talented, I specially leave this prophecy.

Celebrate the big birthday early, do not be greedy for perfection, otherwise your son's marriage will be delayed, and it will be unfavorable for the descendants of the Xue gate."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan repeated the words above several times in succession.

After Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng came in with a water bowl and a writing brush, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan hurriedly got up, dipped the brush into the prepared water, and wrote the prophecy on both the floor and the wall.

Having listened to the old couple's night talk last night, he was naturally clear that what the old couple worried about most now was Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang's marriage, and when they would be able to hold a grandson or granddaughter.

Using this pain point as a requirement, asking Xue Pa to celebrate his fiftieth birthday one month early was not a big problem.

In this way, it could cause the turn of events that would originally only happen in over a month to be brought forward to now.

Tricking them like this wasn't a matter of morality; he was here now, and if anything broke out, he could step forward to resolve it. If he weren't here, heaven knows if this old couple would be in mortal danger when the event occurred.

After writing, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan tore off the Heart-Clearing Talisman from Xue Pa's forehead, left the room with Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, went downstairs, exited the house, and left the courtyard.

Xue Pa woke up leisurely, sat up from the bed, a look of contemplation appearing in his eyes as he savored the words that had echoed in his mind.

"Was I dreaming?"

But soon, Xue Pa discovered that this did not seem to be a dream, because he saw the words from the dream appearing on both the floor and the wall.

"Cannot celebrate a round-number birthday; this is bad for Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang's marriage and descendants; it must be held early, the sooner the better!"

Xue Pa hurriedly went downstairs; he wanted to find his wife to discuss it.

Just like that, Xue Ma, who had just sat down at the card table and hadn't played many rounds, was pulled back by her husband.

Xue Ma originally wanted to let Xue Pa wait for her to finish playing, but Xue Pa urged her repeatedly that there was no time, telling her to hurry home to the bedroom to take a look.

The old ladies at the card table and those standing around watching the cards covered their mouths and laughed, and one even teased:

"Why don't you hurry back? Your man can't wait."

Xue Ma blushed and had no choice but to follow Xue Pa home.

After closing the door, Xue Pa told Xue Ma about the Immortal Elder he had dreamed of, and even took Xue Ma upstairs to the bedroom to see the words.

But the words that could originally be seen had all disappeared at this moment.

Yet this disappearance only made Xue Pa more certain of what was in his heart, making the matter seem even more real.

"This birthday must be celebrated early, the sooner the better."

Although Xue Ma hadn't seen the words, since this matter involved holding a grandson, she echoed him with the mentality of "better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't":

"Yes, yes, then let's celebrate it early."

"How about tomorrow?"

"Where would we have time to prepare dishes and invite a cook? Even if we invite people to eat, we can't invite them today and have them come tomorrow."

"That's true, then what should we do? When is the earliest we can hold it?"

"Besides, you've already notified and invited people for the birthday date; do you mean to reject them one by one?"

"That's right..."

At this moment, the sound of a door opening came from another room.

Xue Pa and Xue Ma walked out of the room and saw Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan standing at the door.

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, why are you back?"

"I left the house in a hurry and forgot to take my paints." As he spoke, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan waved the paint box in his hand. "Uncle Xue, Aunt Xue, what were you arguing about in the room just now?"

"It's like this..." Xue Pa explained the matter; in the exchanges over the past two days, he had already come to treat Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan as an adult.

"That's easy to handle. A birthday is a birthday, no matter how you celebrate it. Tomorrow, just invite some close relatives and neighbors to have a meal at home and set up a large round table.

As for the one a month later, Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang will be back by then, so hold it in his name. Since he hasn't been home for a long time, hold a banquet to thank relatives and friends for their past care for the family.

If anyone asks why it's not a birthday celebration that day, Uncle Xue, you can just say that a fortune teller advised you to do so, and everyone will understand."

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's method is good, let's do it that way," Xue Ma clapped her hands and said.

"Right, let's do it that way. Tomorrow... no, you go buy groceries right now, and we'll set a table tomorrow."

"Isn't it the same if I go buy them tomorrow morning? They'll be fresher."

"Have you forgotten? You have to visit the ancestral graves on the morning of the birthday. If you go buy groceries tomorrow morning, what will you do about the offerings?"

"Right, I forgot. I'll go buy the groceries now." Hearing "visit the ancestral graves," Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's gaze sharpened. After Xue Ma went downstairs, he asked Xue Pa: "Uncle Xue, do you have a custom of visiting ancestral graves before a birthday here?"

"Yes, this is a custom we have here. It's also considered notifying the ancestors so they can join in the joy."

"Then Uncle Xue, can Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and I go with you tomorrow morning?"

"The ancestral graves are on the back mountain, the road is not easy to walk, and you have to go before dawn. Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, you don't need to..."

"Uncle Xue, we also have a custom in Nantong: when visiting someone else's house, if they are going to visit their ancestors, we must also follow and pay our respects."

"Alright then, when we set off tomorrow, I'll come call you."

"Okay, Uncle, I'll wait for you."

"Aren't you going to paint?"

"I won't paint anymore. Uncle Xue, let me write the birthday couplets and the 'Longevity' character for you; my calligraphy is quite good."

"Done, done, done. Then I really thank you, Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan returned to his room.

Visit the ancestral graves?

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan remembered that Wu Pangzi's prospective father-in-law and mother-in-law had their accident after visiting the graves.

The old couple was busy preparing dishes until evening, while Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan finished writing the birthday couplets and the "Longevity" character early.

At about four in the morning, Xue Pa came to knock on the door.

He only knocked lightly and called out in a low voice, thinking that young people wouldn't be able to get up, so he would just go by himself.

He didn't expect that as soon as the door was knocked, it opened from the inside, and both of them were carrying bags, ready to go.

Xue Pa said: "You don't need to carry so many things."

"It's fine, we're used to it. Let's go, Uncle Xue."

"Oh, alright then."

Xue Ma didn't go, but if Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang were home, he would have had to go along.

Xue Pa originally had a shoulder pole carrying two baskets, which contained the offerings and paper candles.

Seeing this, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng simply took them over.

"How can I be so embarrassed? It's heavy."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng shook his head and said: "It's fine, it's very light."

Leaving the town and heading toward the back mountain, because Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng walked as if flying even with the load on his shoulders, the time was greatly shortened.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, the three of them arrived at the Xue family ancestral graves.

As soon as they arrived, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan noticed the unusual nature of the Xue family ancestral graves. The mountain hollow had three rises and two falls—three standing mountain peaks, facing a river in front and backed by a mountain behind, which could be called a propitious site.

When the ancestral graves were chosen in the early years, they should have been selected by a specialized Feng Shui master.

The Xue family ancestral graves were located on the middle peak; if there were no accidents, the two peaks to the east and west should also be the ancestral graves of other families.

"Uncle Xue, whose ancestral graves are on those two peaks?"

Hearing this, Xue Pa looked thoughtful and said: "They should be graves too, but I don't remember whose they are."

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, shall I go take a look?"

"Go ahead, Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng flew down and ran toward that side, while Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Pa arranged the offerings together.

Not long after, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng ran back: "Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, there are no graves on that peak."

Xue Pa was astonished: "How is that possible?"

Although he didn't remember whose they were, he was subconsciously certain that they existed.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng ran toward the west peak again, and after returning, said: "There are no graves there either."

Xue Pa was puzzled: "That shouldn't be. I remember there should be graves. I'll ask someone when I get back to town."

"Uncle Xue, let's finish the business first."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew that the question of whose ancestral graves those two peaks were wouldn't be answered even if they returned to town now.

At the same time, the fact that things were missing where they should have been was a bit like "there are no three hundred taels of silver buried here."

In the dark, he had a premonition that these three places should be the locations of the "formation eyes."

Fortunately, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had already sorted out and confirmed his own strategy and intended to continue according to the original plan; otherwise, these three peaks would have been the key nodes where he would have attempted to dig.

"Alright, I'll pay respects to the ancestral graves first."

Xue Pa began to offer sacrifices to the ancestors, first sprinkling wine, then burning paper money, and finally kowtowing.

When Xue Pa was kowtowing, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan suddenly noticed that some unusual movement had appeared at the highest position, which was the position of the most senior ancestral grave.

He immediately entered the Yin-walking state and saw a faint green light, which plunged straight toward Xue Pa from top to bottom.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, subconsciously wanting to stop it, but after lifting his hand, he ultimately lowered it again.

Because this was not an evil spirit, but rather a blue mist.

The "blue mist rising from the ancestral grave" that people often speak of refers to exactly this, mistaking the blue mist for blue smoke.

Generally speaking, only when true ancestors have accumulated virtue and are buried in an auspicious site, while their descendants are of pure character, can one receive the protection of the blue mist—which is what is known as ancestral blessing.

This counts as a form of benediction; it has only benefits and no drawbacks, so he had no reason to stop it.

The blue mist merged into Father Xue's body; he himself was completely unaware and continued to kowtow.

After the ceremony ended, Father Xue began to pack up his things, and at the ancestral grave site, there was no further movement.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but wonder, could it be that the sequence of events hadn't arrived yet?

If his judgment was wrong, and the sequence of Father Xue's birthday celebration wasn't the primary driving factor, but rather a guest arriving on the day of the celebration was, then his early arrival would be meaningless.

The three of them returned home.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had originally wanted to ask Father Xue again which relatives and friends from out of town would be coming to the grand banquet in a month's time, but as soon as he brought up the topic, Father Xue clearly began to feel sleepy, yawning incessantly, and several times he almost fell asleep right there in his chair.

Mother Xue came out, saw this scene, and hurriedly said, "You got up too early; go and get some sleep quickly. Wake up after a while; we have guests to welcome."

Father Xue nodded groggily, and just as he wanted to stand up, he nearly fell over.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, help Uncle Xue go to sleep."

"You got it."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng reached out and, almost single-handedly, carried Father Xue into the room and upstairs.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan looked at the stool Father Xue had previously been sitting on; could the sleepiness have come on so intensely?

Could it be... that the ancestors were going to send a dream?

After Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng sent Father Xue up to sleep, he began to put up the birthday couplets and the character for "longevity."

Not long after, two families of relatives arrived, followed by two neighboring families, and the courtyard suddenly became lively.

At this moment, a young man from the neighbor's house next door walked in, carrying a large bamboo basket, and shouted with a smile:

"Haha, Auntie, I went out on the boat this morning and happened to catch a big one. I've never seen such a big fresh catch before. You hurry up and clean it; let's stew some fish soup at noon. This can also count as the River Dragon King giving our uncle a birthday blessing."

Inside the bamboo basket was a large fish.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng suddenly bent down and whispered in Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's ear, "This fish is dirty."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan immediately looked at the young man who had delivered the fish. The young man was barefoot, shirtless, and had dark skin. Judging by his interaction with the people around him, it was confirmed he was indeed the neighbor from next door.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan couldn't see anything unusual about the young man; he was not an evil spirit, nor was he possessed.

Moreover, his speech and behavior were very natural, and his micro-expressions were all normal, proving that he likely wasn't lying.

Therefore, this problematic fish had indeed been caught by him inadvertently.

But this fish was very likely intentional; it was a case of a "willing fish taking the bait."

Father Xue had just returned from worshipping at the ancestral grave, and this fish "followed" right after; there must be a connection here.

Mother Xue exclaimed, "Heavens, such a big fish, how am I supposed to kill it by myself?"

"Auntie Xue, let Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng help you kill the fish."

"Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, is that okay?"

"Of course."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng took the fish basket from the neighbor's hand and walked toward the back kitchen, with Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan following behind.

Outside the back kitchen was a small door leading to a small courtyard of a few square meters, which was basically never used.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng placed the fish basket there and turned his head to look at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, grab it out."

"You got it!"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng reached out and grabbed the big fish; the big fish appeared unusually docile.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pressed his hands into the inkpad and directly drew two red marks on both sides of the big fish, finally converging at the fish's head.

The big fish immediately began to struggle violently; its fish eyes turned red, its scales blackened, and two rows of sharp, fine teeth grew out beneath its fish lips.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan discovered that its appearance at this moment was seven or eight parts similar to the big fish he had seen in A Li's "dream," with the biggest difference being its size.

It no longer had any shadow of a fish; it clearly looked like a wild beast struggling frantically.

It was fortunate that Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng was strong and knew the technique of exerting force, otherwise, two or three ordinary adults really wouldn't have been able to hold it down.

"Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, help me get my Yellow River shovel."

"You can't kill it like that." Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan shook his head and took a Soul-Breaking Talisman from his pocket.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng understood; he used his knee to pin down the fish's body, freed one hand, and pried the fish's head upward to force its mouth open.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan quickly placed the talisman into the fish's mouth and pulled his hand away before its mouth could snap shut to bite his fingers.

Once the Soul-Breaking Talisman entered, the big fish's struggle became even more violent; even with Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's weight, he was shaken until he began to tremble.

However, very quickly, the big fish's scales began to turn white, its reddened fish eyes also rapidly withered to gray, and the strength of its struggle began to weaken more and more.

At first, the fish scales gradually turned to powder, followed by the fish meat, looking like a honeycomb briquette that had been burned out.

"Crack..."

The big fish's body completely split open; in the very center area, a black fish bladder had actually survived the power of the Soul-Breaking Talisman and was still bouncing.

Inside the fish bladder, something seemed to be wriggling.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, you can't eat this."

"Hehe." A sheepish smile appeared on Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took out another Soul-Breaking Talisman and threw it at that black fish bladder. After the talisman covered it, it immediately began to burn. The fish bladder ruptured, and inside, long, thin black things like earthworms began to stretch their bodies in a final struggle. Looking closely, one could see neat, tiny scales on their bodies.

In the end, these things also turned into white powder, leaving a pattern on the ground resembling a blooming firework.

To suppress and kill this thing, it had cost two Soul-Breaking Talismans.

It was hard to imagine what a terrifying consequence there would be if this thing had really been put into a pot to make soup and eaten.

And this was not even its true form.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked back into the house, and just then, he saw Father Xue, who had previously gone upstairs to sleep, slowly walking down while holding his forehead, shaking his head as he walked, and muttering something to himself.

"Uncle Xue, what's wrong with you?"

Father Xue said somewhat blankly:

"Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, when I was just sleeping, I dreamed of an immortal elder again, and that immortal elder said some things to me."

"Uncle Xue, what did the immortal elder say?"

"I think this is just a case of 'thinking by day and dreaming by night'; this dream cannot be taken as real."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was startled. The first immortal elder had been impersonated by him using voice projection, but this second one was very likely real!

As a result, because he had impersonated one yesterday, it actually made Father Xue not believe the words of this "true immortal elder."

"Uncle Xue, what if the immortal elder had other instructions? Hurry and recall it again; what did he say to you in the dream?"

"This immortal elder said to hurry to Zhengmen Village and set up offerings and blood bowls to worship.

He said that as long as I do this, it will protect my family line and ensure the continuation of my descendants.

Look, isn't this just like yesterday when the true immortal elder came, and I had a similar dream myself? Even the reward for protecting me is exactly the same."

"Zhengmen Village, isn't that the place you told me about?"

Father Xue nodded and said, "It must be because I told you about the expedition team yesterday, Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, and it just happened to coincide with that moment, so I dreamed about it together. Who would go to that place? Anyway, I won't go."

According to local records, Zhengmen Village was originally a village under Min'an Town, which was submerged by a flood more than two hundred years ago.

Its location is southwest of Min'an Town. From many years ago until now, rumors have constantly appeared about who has seen a village there, and that there are still living people in the village, wearing certain types of clothes.

Now, there is a person in Min'an Town who claims to have been to Zhengmen Village.

And this person comes to every banquet held in the town, regardless of whose house it is. The host will specially take a large bowl to serve him rice, then cover it with dishes, letting him sit in a corner, disheveled and unkempt, to eat by himself.

According to the elders, every region has such a fool. Although he is crazy and mentally unstable, he doesn't hit or harm anyone. The hundred families in the village and town feed him, which can be considered as letting him keep the peace for everyone.

Last month, an expedition team composed of six young people heard the legend of Zhengmen Village and wanted to go exploring. That expedition team was composed of students from a university and was brought to the Xue family, who also had a university student, by the enthusiastic auntie from the small shop.

Although it wasn't the same university as their son, Father and Mother Xue still warmly hosted them for a meal and a night's stay. They also asked Father Xue about Zhengmen Village. Father Xue told them some of what he had heard and finally advised them not to take the risk, saying that firstly, it couldn't be found, and secondly, it was even more inauspicious if found.

However, this group of young people didn't listen at all and set off on the road the next day, and they even took the fool from the town as their guide.

As a result, a week later, the fool returned by himself, while the six members of the expedition team had completely disappeared without a trace.

People in town all said the expedition team didn't find Zhengmen Village and left overnight after sending the fool back, because the fool had a sum of money in his pocket, which should have been the guide fee given to him by the expedition team. The fool even took the money to the small shop to buy a lot of candy to eat.

But Father and Mother Xue didn't think so, because those six young people liked the stinky mandarin fish Mother Xue made very much and said that after they returned, they would come to their house to eat it again.

The old couple could tell this wasn't just polite talk, but they never came again.

Father Xue even secretly went to the police station to report the case. After the police station took a statement, they said they would contact the school to verify. When Father Xue went to ask again a few days later, the police station said the school replied that no students from their school were missing.

Having had a university student in their own family, Father Xue knew clearly that it was still summer vacation at that time; how could the school verify whether their students were missing?

This matter became an unsolved mystery, always weighing on the hearts of Father and Mother Xue.

As things stand now, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan can almost be certain,

The place he truly needs to go this time is Zhengmen Village!

"Hahaha, eat at the banquet, hahaha, eat at the banquet!"

An adult's laughter came from outside.

The fool had come.

———

Too sleepy, rushed to finish this, sorry to keep everyone waiting. I'm going to go take a nap, there will be another chapter tonight.

(End of chapter)