Chapter 182

The tea party ended, and they walked out of the hotel.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang sat down by the flower bed, took out a cigarette case, and handed one to Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin.

After Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin took the cigarette, he pulled out a lighter, lit it for Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang first, and said with a smile:

"Congratulations, Brother Liang."

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang sighed and exhaled a ring of smoke.

From the announcement of a major project's launch to its official commencement, there is often a very long interval.

Restarting a closed project that has previously encountered problems is more time-consuming and laborious than starting from scratch, especially since the 572 Project has been closed twice in history, and each time, relatively serious and eerie accidents occurred.

Therefore, the preparation time required for it to start again will only be longer.

And the part that Luo Gong is responsible for, just like the water-spout incident at Gaoyou Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake before, is to lead his team to provide professional technical support from their side.

The teams responsible for other parts also need to prepare and settle in.

According to Luo Gong's estimate, this will take at least another year.

As one of the pre-designated persons in charge of certain aspects of the project, the only news Luo Gong has received so far is two-fold.

First is the notification of the project's restart;

Second is the advance formation of the project team.

Special projects have extremely high confidentiality requirements, but confidentiality here does not mean that everyone participating in the project must be isolated from the world.

Top-level leaders who can access the core of the project naturally have their corresponding special standards, but the personnel below who are responsible for a large number of specific, detailed tasks do not need to be that strict; in fact, they will appear relatively relaxed.

After all, as long as the task responsibilities are subdivided specifically enough, even the front-line personnel participating in the project can only be like those in the mountain, unable to recognize the true Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face of Mount Lu.

The candidates for the new project team were required to be found in universities.

First, gathering personnel who have already entered the workforce for training and standby is neither realistic nor cost-effective, and the impact is uncontrollable.

Second, considering the cultivation and development of relevant talent, rather than re-summoning the old guys, it is better to start building a talent pipeline directly.

The reason Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin congratulated Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang was that Luo Gong had handed the formation of the new team to Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang.

It is like young soldiers longing for war to establish merit.

Because of the special period, the promotion channels will become much wider.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang has been grinding out his credentials for the past two years, and even if he has done so smoothly, he still has to go through this process.

Now, this process of his has been greatly shortened, and he has gained an opportunity for a leap forward.

Of course, the premise is that your ability must be solid and you must be able to withstand the test; otherwise, you will be unworthy of your position and fall very hard.

At this moment, Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang did not feel the joy and excitement of obtaining such a precious opportunity, nor was he particularly apprehensive or uneasy.

He just knew that after taking on the new job, the frequency of his "going home" would have to be greatly reduced.

In the past, he ran around everywhere, following one project after another; it seemed tiring, but the work was phased, so there were many opportunities to return to Nantong.

But once the new job starts, everything from screening, assessment, training, internships, and drills needs to be handled by him personally.

Those without a sense of responsibility can be very leisurely, but if one has a sense of responsibility, it almost means near-infinite work content in the short term.

Because your time no longer belongs solely to yourself, if you want to seize the opportunity to return to Nantong, you have to bear the inner moral guilt.

"Brother Liang, this is a good thing. I believe your wife will support you too."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin patted Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang on the shoulder; he knew he was talking nonsense, but at this moment, he could only talk nonsense.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang nodded: "I'm about to set off back to Jin Ling. The team size is initially set at thirty people. If it were just three, that would be great."

Three people—just the three in front of him: Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin, and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang believed that in the entire Haihe University, there were no students more professional than the three in front of him.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "If there's anything you need help with, just say it."

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang smiled: "Of course, how could I be polite with you?"

After finishing, Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang waved his hand, walked to the side of the road, and got into the taxi that was parked there waiting for passengers.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew that Brother Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang should be planning to jump into the river one more time before leaving Nantong.

For a long time to come, Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang would not return here again.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's go back too."

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You went to the roadside and hailed a new car.

On the way back, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pondered the time in his heart again, only this time he wasn't calculating the time to get home.

Under the underground palace, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had once obtained a rotten bamboo slip from the masked man.

After the technology restored it, he asked the old professors at the Beijing family compound to help him decipher it, and obtained nine major coordinates.

These nine major coordinates are scattered everywhere, namely:

White Mountains and Black Waters, South of the Colorful Clouds, Northern Grasslands, Vast Desert, One Hundred Thousand Mountains, Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake of a Thousand Islands, Heavenly Basin, Plateau Glaciers, and the last one is in the sea.

Among them, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan already had specific guesses for three of them.

The Heavenly Basin should refer to the Fengdou Ghost City.

White Mountains and Black Waters should refer to that Goguryeo tomb in Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie Jian.

The coordinate in the sea should be the location where that giant sea turtle is.

When he first obtained these nine major coordinates, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan still felt that they were very far away from him.

But when Luo Gong announced in front of him that the 572 Civil Air Defense Project was about to restart, the young man suddenly realized that what was meant to come... would eventually come.

He didn't know if he needed to visit all nine secret realms, but the three he currently knew were all directly connected to him.

So, from a very early time, Old Old Old Jiang Shui had already set the final big problem for him; what do you call this... a joint entrance exam for nine provinces?

After arriving home, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't rush to return to his great-grandfather's house first, but after informing Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin and A You, he walked toward Hu Zi's house alone.

On the dam at Hu Zi's house, Xiao Xiao Yingying was making paper effigies.

Seeing the young man coming, Xiao Xiao Yingying first looked up, and seeing that the young man wasn't walking toward the dam, she lowered her head and continued her work.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked straight toward the peach forest.

Deep in the peach forest, a small fence was tied, and the inside of the fence was covered with peach blossoms; Benben was lying inside playing by himself.

After seeing Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, Benben let out a "giggle" laugh.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan chose a peach tree nearby and sat down with his back against it.

Just like that, he sat until it was near dusk.

During this period, two special wind swirls rose in the peach forest; Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan noticed them, but he did not perform soul-walking.

Stretching, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan stood up, walked out of the peach forest, and went home.

A bigger wind blew up in the peach forest, bringing a "whooshing" sound.

Xiao Xiao Yingying put down the paper effigy, walked down the dam, entered the peach forest, and picked up Benben.

Benben stretched out his hands, attempting to grab the peach blossoms dancing wildly in front of him; the child didn't feel afraid, no matter what he encountered, he found it interesting.

Xiao Xiao Yingying, however, knew that "that one" was very angry now.

She didn't know why it was angry; was it caused by something he chatted about with that young man?

What Xiao Xiao Yingying didn't know was that the reason it was angry was that the young man didn't chat with it at all, purely treating this place as a peach forest for calming the mind.

"Woof! Woof! Woof."

Xiao Hei barked wildly at Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng.

When they were in university, Xiao Hei used to sleep in the same room as Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, and it was also fed by Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng on weekdays; the relationship between the man and the dog could be said to be quite good.

But ever since returning from Guizhou this time, every time Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng wanted to feed it, as soon as he got close, Xiao Hei would immediately stand up and drive Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng away in a very unfriendly manner.

In the past, this was almost unimaginable.

It didn't just mean the breakdown of the human-dog relationship; Xiao Hei had always been lazy. In Li Sanjiang's words, using this dog to guard the door, even if a thief entered the house and moved everything out, it would only blame the thief for making too much noise and disturbing its sleep.

From childhood to adulthood, Xiao Hei rarely barked, and at first, they once thought it was a mute dog that couldn't bark.

"Alright, move aside, let me feed it."

Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng heard the commotion and walked out, took the soup bowl from Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's hand, and handed the medicinal broth to Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei stopped barking and lowered its head to start eating the tonic.

But while eating, it still used its eyes to guard against Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng at all times, fearing that Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng would get close.

Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng: "You ate that Gu-child, your aura is mixed, it's afraid of you."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "It's not afraid of me."

Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng: "Then what is it?"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "It thinks I've been occupied by another person."

"What's the difference?"

"There is a difference; it's missing me."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng approached again, and Xiao Hei stopped drinking the tonic and barked wildly at Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng again.

This time, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng didn't retreat like he did in the past few days, but accelerated and arrived in front of Xiao Hei.

"Woof!"

Xiao Hei pounced toward Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, opening its mouth to bite.

A five-black dog is inherently a beast full of Yang energy, and coupled with the fact that this dog of theirs had been fed with tonics since childhood, even if it was lazy on weekdays, the ferocity in its bones was something no one could ignore.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng raised his hand to block in front of him; Xiao Hei bit Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's wrist and wouldn't let go even after biting, even though its dog body was suspended in the air by Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng.

However, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng not only didn't shake it off, but instead sat down, ignoring the pain of being bitten by the dog, and placed Xiao Hei on his lap.

Xiao Hei was still making low growls in its throat, and at the wound on the wrist, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's blood was also flowing out, soaking Xiao Hei's white teeth red.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng raised his other hand and stroked Xiao Hei's dog head.

Yin Meng asked worriedly, "When will you be able to completely digest that thing?"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng shook his head: "If I digested it, wouldn't it have been eaten for nothing?"

Yin Meng pointed her finger at Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "Are you keeping it on purpose!"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng did not answer, which was taken as an admission.

"Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, do you have any idea how dangerous it is to keep something like that in your body?"

"I only know that I will also become more dangerous because of it."

"You guys, how are you all lunatics one by one."

Yin Meng was including Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You in this category as well.

Even now, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin was still gloomy, yet he was still unwilling to be treated by Little Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan Ge.

As for Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You, he spent his days pondering how to overdraw and extract his body's potential to extend the manifestation time of Bai He Master Master Master Master Master Master Master Master Tongzi.

As time passed wave after wave, everyone cared less and less about their own bodies, all having the feeling that their lives were salvaged anyway; the more they were salvaged, the less they cherished them.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng looked at Yin Meng without speaking.

Actually, among everyone, the person most like a lunatic should be her.

Yin Meng squatted down to the side and opened her palm; that Gu insect darted out, like a toy that came whenever called, being rolled around and played with by her as if it were a walnut.

"Tell me, should I give it a name too?"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "No need to name it."

"Why?"

"If it doesn't have a name, it won't hurt when it dies."

Yin Meng was stunned for a moment; not only was she not angry, but she nodded in deep agreement instead:

"That makes sense."

The Gu insect in her palm suddenly crawled even faster.

Time slowly slipped away.

Xiao Hei had bitten for a long time, and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng had also stroked it for a long time.

Gradually, the rage in Xiao Hei's eyes faded; it also slowly loosened its mouth, then stuck out its tongue and licked the wound on Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's wrist that it had bitten.

It confirmed that the person before it had not had their body usurped.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng picked up the tonic that had only had half a basin drunk earlier and brought it before Xiao Hei; Xiao Hei finished the tonic and, rarely, licked the plate.

In the past, even though it was supplied with good food and drink every day, it would never have made this gesture.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng pointed at the doghouse.

Xiao Hei turned around, walked inside, lay down, and began to fall asleep.

Having barked so many times today and even bitten someone, for it, this counted as a rare major expenditure of energy in its life, so it had to rest well to replenish its vitality.

Yin Meng: "I'll help you treat the wound."

"No need, Xiao Hei is clean, I'll just rinse it with well water."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng walked to the well and drew water to rinse the wound.

After the red fresh blood on the outside was washed away, one could see the blood groove bitten by the dog, with a charred black color inside.

This was caused by the clash between the Five Black Dog's constitution and the Qi within his own body, which meant that the evil Sha Qi in his body was currently very heavy.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng took out a talisman drawn by Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan from his pocket and stuck it on the wound; the talisman paper did not turn completely black, but it turned gray.

Fingertips stroking the wound, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng sighed.

It seemed he still had to trouble Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan.

He never cared whether he was some kind of freak; anyway, he was used to being called a "freak" by his peers in the village because of his habit of eating incense when he was young.

What he cared about was that if the Qi on his body was too heavy, it would cause misunderstandings, thereby affecting Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's next River Walk.

Just at this moment, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan returned from the bearded man's house.

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan."

"Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng Ge?"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng raised his bitten wrist, and after Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took a look, he smiled: "Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng Ge, go wait for me at the workshop."

"Okay."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng walked behind the house.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan prepared to go upstairs, encountering Yin Meng on the way.

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan Ge, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng he..."

"It's fine, I have a way."

Yin Meng nodded: "That's good, that's good, you scared me to death."

"By the way, where are Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin and A You?"

"After they came back this afternoon, they were called away by Li Shan Daye to collect tables and chairs."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan suddenly felt that he should have known to take them both to sit at the peach forest; otherwise, they wouldn't have been harnessed by his great-grandfather to pull a millstone the moment they got home.

Actually, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was clear about his companions' thoughts.

Earlier, their development paths were all designed by himself.

But now, they had their own subjective initiative.

Although, sometimes, even Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan felt that they were very dangerous doing things this way, he had no way to open his mouth to stop them.

No one was willing to be a drag on the team; everyone was thinking that they could play a greater role during the River Walk.

Moreover, besides team interests, there were also their own development needs here.

They were people, not tools in his eyes; sometimes what he thought was best was instead not the most suitable for them.

Arriving at the second floor and walking into his room, A Li was drawing inside.

This painting had already completed the parts for Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You and Yin Meng, and was currently drawing the part for Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan looked at the half-piece of spirit tablet remaining in the room; this amount was not enough.

A Li put down her paintbrush and prepared to go out; she knew the boy's meaning.

The tacit understanding between the two had long reached the point where they didn't need to speak and only needed a look; well, A Li couldn't speak either.

But even though A Li taking spirit tablets as material was already something everyone was used to, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was still embarrassed to make A Li do so with just a look.

This time it was his own direct need, so it was only right that he had to open his mouth to speak.

People, one can pretend to be ignorant while knowing the truth, but one cannot pretend to be ignorant on purpose.

He held A Li's hand, walked downstairs, and came to the east room.

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei was in the room, holding a brush and doing clothing design; beside her was one of A Li's, and what she was currently drawing was the boy's menswear.

Liu Yi had just come in from the storeroom holding spirit tablets and was currently restocking the ancestors who were out of stock.

Just at this moment, two young customers entered the shop.

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei said with some surprise: "This is?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan said to Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei: "Liu Nainai."

Immediately, the boy's gaze looked at the spirit tablets on the offering table.

Although this restocking was a bit urgent, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei had long been used to it; she just waved her hand, signaling self-service.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked to the offering table and bowed to the spirit tablets on it:

"Junior's attendant Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng has had some problems, needing to make wooden nails to suppress them; I ask all seniors to assist!"

When saying these words, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's voice was pressed very low.

When the boy opened his mouth to speak, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei suddenly felt a warning sign rise in her heart, so she immediately blocked her own perception.

Liu Yi stood to the side, still thinking of admiring the two children picking; who knew that after hearing these words, her throat immediately felt sweet.

This was the first time she had coughed up blood while eating melon seeds!

Liu Yi's reaction also made Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan feel puzzled.

Liu Yi hurriedly waved her hand, signaling that she was fine.

Seeing that the boy had finished speaking, A Li began to flip through the spirit tablets for her ancestors.

She knew that Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng had sixteen Qi gates on his body, so he needed sixteen large wooden nails.

It was just that spirit tablets had their fixed shapes after all, with thick bases and narrow tops.

In the past, taking them to plane wood shavings was already considered maximizing utilization efficiency.

But this time, one spirit tablet could only make one large wooden nail, and the rest were waste, so this time, A Li chose sixteen spirit tablets.

She couldn't carry them alone, so Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan followed beside her to take them.

From the early days of eating with the girl, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew that the girl had always had obsessive-compulsive disorder, so every time she chose spirit tablets, she would choose the old ones first.

This could also be considered treating everyone equally; no ancestor would be heavily "abused," and no ancestor could get the girl's preferential treatment.

After the two of them went out holding the spirit tablets, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei looked at the spirit tablets that had become sparse and showed a thoughtful look.

Liu Yi pulled out a handkerchief and spat out the fresh blood in her mouth; she said with some disbelief: "Matriarch, why would it be like this?"

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei: "I also don't know the reason; the karmic taboos on this child have suddenly become heavier, so heavy that even I feel wary."

Liu Yi: "A Li wasn't like this before."

Outside the house, Qin Shu, who had just finished delivering paper effigies, was following his past habit and coming to the east room to report.

Just as he walked to the door and heard this sentence, he intended to retract his foot and go to the fields to see if there was any work to do.

But here, he had no way to spring away directly; moving at an ordinary person's pace, he certainly wouldn't be faster than sound.

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei: "A Li's River Walk doesn't possess any reference value."

It wasn't as uncomfortable as imagined; Qin Shu felt he had grown accustomed to it, and he picked up the hoe.

Liu Yi: "That..."

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei: "I have seen those who succeed in the River Walk, but during the process, they never showed symptoms like Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's so early on.

Our Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan is truly too special, as if he has received more of the River's..."

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei wanted to say "favor," but no matter what, she could not bring herself to say the word.

Where on earth was there any favor?

But she also felt it inappropriate to speak ill of the River now.

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei looked at Liu Yi and asked, "Are you still alright?"

"No harm done."

"Mm." Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei cast her gaze back onto the ancestral spirit tablets and smiled, "Right, when ordering spirit tablets in the future, get more of the various rare materials."

"Mistress, what do you mean?"

When it came to ancestral spirit tablets, Liu Yi dared not improvise.

"I mean, a set of tablets can have various different materials; don't just limit it to high-grade Thunder-Struck Wood."

"I understand."

"Also, the styles can be a bit more varied."

"Styles?"

"There are large ones and small ones, thick ones and thin ones; spirit tablets don't just have one specification."

"Different specifications, placed in one set?"

"Why not? For those with high seniority, make them larger; for those with low seniority, make them more slender, distinguishing their order of seniority and status.

This also makes it convenient for our A Li to gather materials."

"Understood."

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei patted her forehead and blamed herself: "Sigh, why did I only think of this now?"

"You mean..."

"It is only right and proper for us to worship the spirit tablets; it is also only right and proper for A Li, as a member of the family, to take and replace them; and the relationship between A Li and him is very special.

Heh, looking at it now, these fellows losing their spirits isn't entirely a bad thing; at the very least, here, it is equivalent to severing karma."

Liu Yi suddenly realized: "Mistress, I understand."

Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's River Walk was sudden, and there were so many good things in the ancestral residence that there hadn't been time to prepare them for him.

Now, the ancestral spirit tablets... are equivalent to the only channel through which the Qin and Liu families can transport benefits to Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan.

Therefore, the Mistress wanted her to diversify the materials and specifications so that the scope of benefit transport could be broadened.

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei: "Also, you can inlay... forget it, too much is as bad as too little. You keep a good watch on it yourself; spirit tablets must, after all, look like spirit tablets. They can be luxurious, but not too outrageous."

"Rest assured, I understand."

"Go and prepare."

"Yes."

After Liu Yi went out, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei sat back in her chair. She had just wanted to let Liu Yi try doing some inlays on the tablets.

For example, some beads or runes; whichever ancestor liked using blades, swords, reading books, or looking at paintings, she would provide them accordingly.

But just as she was about to voice this idea, the warning sign that had appeared earlier surfaced once more.

You can probe the loopholes of the Heavenly Dao in moderation, but you must never take the Heavenly Dao for a fool.

Once you overstep, there is no difference from directly sending yourself to Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face the karmic backlash that must be borne.

Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei picked up her brush and continued designing clothes for the boy.

She often regretted one thing, which was why she hadn't sent the boy things earlier.

In the past, children of the Qin and Liu families would always have some good things on them from a young age; the Long Wang family had this foundation.

But Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan did not.

Her original intention was to take Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan to the Qin and Liu ancestral residence after the initiation ceremony ended. Anyway, as the only contemporary successor, whatever the boy liked in the ancestral residence that he could control, he could pick at will.

But as it happened, the initiation triggered the River Walk, and she lost this opportunity.

Clearly possessing the heritage of two Long Wang family lineages, yet when walking the river, he was like a wild wanderer of the jianghu, directly ending up in a state of "rich family, poor path."

However, she looked down at the jade thumb ring on her finger.

She had wanted to give this thing to the child as a greeting gift when they first met, but the child firmly refused to accept it.

Perhaps this is the will of heaven in the dark; before the initiation, even if she wanted to give it, the child wouldn't have wanted it.

As she drew, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei looked back at the offering table and mocked herself:

"You probably didn't expect it either, that I, who lived a life of luxury, would be arranged to raise a child in poverty in my old age."

Sixteen spirit tablets were carried into the small workshop.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng had long been sitting inside waiting.

A Li, familiar with the routine, picked up an ink brush and began outlining the tablets.

Then she took out tools and began gathering materials and carving.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan helped on the side.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng wanted to help, but he couldn't intervene in such delicate work; he could only help tidy up the tabletop and polish some tools by the way.

Wooden nails were not difficult to make, and furthermore, there was no need for detailed texture carving, so it wasn't time-consuming.

High-end spirit tablets, even in their raw state, could exert miraculous suppression effects.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan opened two cans of Jianlibao, and he and A Li each took one and started drinking.

"A Li, go and rest."

A Li nodded, her gaze falling on the can of Jianlibao in the boy's hand.

She would no longer collect ordinary beverage cans; after all, the grade of her collection had improved.

But she still wanted the cans they had opened and drunk from together.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan could only lift his head, finish the remaining drink in one breath, and then hand the can to A Li.

A Li took the can, a glow of satisfaction appearing in her eyes, and left the workshop.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, take off your clothes."

"Okay."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng took off his clothes.

In the past, Qin Shu had used sixteen coffin nails to forcibly open Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's Qi Gates, teaching him the *Qin Family Dragon-Observing Method* of body refinement in the most rigid way possible.

Now, the original wounds had long since healed, and the circular marks similar to those left by cupping had become very, very faint.

But today, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had to re-pierce the Qi Gates.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan picked up a wooden nail and a hammer, and aimed at the position of the Qi Gate, starting to drive the nail in.

"Ding ding ding! Ding ding ding! Ding ding ding!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's hands were sticky, covered in Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's blood.

Fortunately, the spurting of blood only happened during the moment of nailing; once the nail was driven in, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng would contract his muscles and stop the bleeding himself.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng didn't feel pain, and didn't even frown; he just said somewhat apologetically: "Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, I won't eat things indiscriminately next time."

"Actually, the Gu-child corpse you ate was just a catalyst. The *Qin Family Dragon-Observing Method* is endless; even when not in battle, it is constantly tempering your tendons, bones, skin, and flesh during daily eating and sleeping. When you have trained to a certain degree, those things in your bones will inevitably be stimulated."

If Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng had spent his life following Old Man Shan as an ordinary corpse-salvager, his inherent traits would not have been stimulated, and he could have spent this life peacefully, albeit appearing strange.

But as it happened, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng started the River Walk with him, facing battle after battle, injury after injury, and having his Qi Gates fully opened time and again, which brought out his true side.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's expression was slightly dim, his gaze lowered.

This was the first time Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan had told him almost explicitly that he was not human.

Although he had long been clear about this fact.

What normal person couldn't eat without consuming incense, and what normal person would have an extremely strong appetite for that filthy meat?

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan continued driving the nails while saying:

"It's really good; neither of us brothers are human, we are both monsters wearing human skin."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng raised his head and looked at the boy.

The boy had a smile on his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

But in that smile, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng perceived the pain the boy felt in his body when saying these words.

He knew that "monster wearing human skin" was the most piercing phrase for the boy, but the boy had actively said it to comfort him, making a joke of it.

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan."

Just a single call, and no more words could be spoken, nor was there any need to.

Neither of them remembered the scenes from that dream back then.

In the dream, even when controlled by the Dream Ghost and reduced to a puppet, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng still did not obey the "master's" order to attack Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan.

This matter, forgetting it is fine, because some things don't need to be remembered; they are already placed at the bottom of the heart anyway.

"Alright, Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, now operate the *Qin Family Dragon-Observing Method* again, following the rhythm I dictate. When I tell you to be fast, be fast; when I tell you to stop, stop; when I tell you to reverse... reverse."

"Okay."

Although Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan hadn't started practicing martial arts, his understanding of the *Qin Family Dragon-Observing Method* surpassed even Qin Shu's.

Under his command, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng began to operate the technique again.

"Uh... uh... uh..."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng let out a low, painful roar.

"Pause for a moment."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand to signal, then set up a simple sound-insulation barrier for this small workshop.

"Alright, it can't be heard outside now, continue."

"Ah!!!!!!"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng began to roar in agony.

It was just like how animals need to grind their teeth; Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was essentially grinding Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's teeth for him.

He was forcibly grinding down the evil, baleful aura that kept growing within Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's body.

In reality, this was equivalent to Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng livingly grinding down his own flesh and bones.

The pain of this far exceeded scraping bone to remove poison.

However, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng endured it all.

"Alright, that's enough."

"Hoo... hoo..."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng panted, raised his head, and the luster in his eyes became even more profound.

His originally bulky muscles had now contracted and become lean; although his stature remained large, he looked somewhat more streamlined than before.

In terms of temperament, he already had a slight shadow of Qin Qin Shuzheng.

The transformation from "beastly nature" to "human nature" would not make him weaker; on the contrary, he would become more powerful, because only a human can rationally use their strength while in a clear-headed state.

The change in temperament also meant that Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's body-refining technique had truly entered the introductory stage.

Although he had taken the path of crashing through the door with brute force.

Yet he had truly, through sheer force, crashed a gap open.

Most importantly, the evil, baleful aura on his body had been suppressed; if Xiao Hei bit him again, those wounds that broke the baleful aura would no longer appear.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took out the talisman paper he had drawn and applied it to the wound on Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's wrist; the talisman paper showed no change.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, you've worked hard."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng shook his head, then looked at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and said:

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan."

"Hmm?"

"Let's be human beings together, okay?"

When Li Sanjiang returned with a cigarette in his mouth, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng had just finished showering by the well at the dam and was preparing to clean up the bloodstains he had washed off his body.

"What's wrong? So much blood on the ground, did you kill a pig at home?"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng scratched his head and said, "Grandpa Li, I caused it."

"You caused it? Are you having a massive hemorrhage?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had just dismantled the barrier in the small workshop and walked out to wash his hands; hearing the conversation outside, the youth said directly:

"Great-Grandpa, Auntie Liu was originally going to make blood curd, but I accidentally knocked it over, and Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng is helping me clean it up."

Li Sanjiang: "If it's spilled, it's spilled. What's the big deal? I don't like eating blood curd anyway; it's easy to get internal heat."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan squatted by the well to wash his hands.

The wellhead was equipped with a manual pump, so there was no need to use a bucket and rope to draw water anymore; just press it a few times and it would work. A cup of water was always kept ready nearby, and during the day when the well ran dry and couldn't pump water, one would pour a cup inside.

Li Sanjiang looked at Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng somewhat strangely and asked in confusion, "Why does it feel like Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng has gotten thinner?"

"Has he?"

"No, he's definitely thinner." Li Sanjiang walked closer and kicked Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, who was squatting on the ground wiping the floor. "If Shan Pao came over and saw this, he'd think I wasn't feeding you. Remember to eat more and put the meat back on."

"Alright, Grandpa Li." Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng responded with a smile; eating was something he was good at.

Li Sanjiang looked at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "That, Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, come with me for a moment."

"Alright, Great-Grandpa."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng handed over a towel, and after Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan wiped his hands, he followed Li Sanjiang into the house.

Unexpectedly, entering the house wasn't enough; Li Sanjiang signaled for Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan to follow him upstairs.

It wasn't until they entered the room that Great-Grandpa took a lottery ticket out of his pocket.

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, look at what this is."

"Great-Grandpa, did you go to play the lottery?"

In recent years, the trend of playing the lottery could be said to be prevalent everywhere.

Whenever a township held an event, both sides of the road would be lined with lottery ticket counters, with uniformed sales clerks standing behind them, and nearby villagers would be attracted to come, as lively as a market fair.

The discarded lottery tickets that were scratched off paved the road underfoot layer upon layer.

"Those who play the lottery aren't as clever as those who sell them; I picked this up, Great-Grandpa."

"Picked it up?"

"Yes, take a look."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took the lottery ticket, which read "Five-Day Luxury Trip to the Capital for Two."

"Hehe, look, how's my luck, Great-Grandpa? I heard from Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Zhuangzhuang that you're busy with your internship now and don't need to go to school anymore, and you don't have anything to do, so it's just right for you to go to the capital and take another look. You don't need to go to your mother's place, but don't you have relatives in the capital?"

"Great-Grandpa, I don't want to go back to the capital; I live very well here."

"It's not asking you to go back to the capital to live; isn't this a package tour? It would be a waste not to go."

"But, I can't go, Great-Grandpa." Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the small print on the lottery ticket. "The date has already passed; this is a prize from the previous two draws."

"Expired? Has someone already won it?"

"Expired? Has someone already won?"

Generally, such grand prizes were won by the organizers' own people who would go on stage to claim them; ordinary people could only draw things like shampoo or soap.

"Hiss, isn't this just a wasted joy? I even treated it like a treasure and kept it in my pocket."

"Great-Grandpa, if you want to go to the capital to take a look, I'll take you on a trip."

Traveling to the capital was almost the dream of all the older generation at the time; they wanted to go and see that sun.

"Why spend that money? I heard that eating and drinking in the capital aren't cheap. I'm not going, not going, not going!"

"Great-Grandpa, I've saved quite a bit of money, enough to take you..."

"How is the little money you've saved enough? Have you taken a wife? Have you had children? Have you bought a house in the city?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan blinked; how old was he anyway?

Li Sanjiang patted the youth's head: "It's okay, Great-Grandpa has it all planned out for you. Business is good now; let Great-Grandpa save some more, it'll be enough, it'll be enough."

Li Sanjiang patted the boy's head: "It's alright, Great-Grandfather has it all planned out for you here. Business is good now, let Great-Grandfather save a bit more; it'll be enough, it'll be enough."

The youth knew that earning and saving money for him was the greatest joy in Great-Grandpa's life right now.

The boy knew that earning and saving money for him was the greatest joy in Great-Grandfather's life right now.

Downstairs, Auntie Liu's punctual announcement came.

"Go, go call that girl to eat together."

"Go on, go call that young lady to come eat with us."

After Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan left the room, Li Sanjiang picked up the lottery ticket again and looked at it:

"Why did it have to be expired?"

Li Sanjiang smacked his lips twice.

Originally, he didn't like playing the lottery, and he didn't like playing cards on weekdays.

But the thought that wasn't there before was now stirred up because of this expired lottery ticket.

"How about I go buy one tomorrow and scratch it?"

"How about I go buy one tomorrow and scratch it too?"

Late at night.

West room.

Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng was living here now.

At this moment, from the bed to the cabinet and then to the floor, she had filled it with all kinds of bottles and jars.

Inside these were all the poisons she had personally extracted.

She knew the effects of one-third of these poisons, and as for the other two-thirds, heaven only knew.

The gu-insect was clutched in Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng's hand, revealing two long black whiskers.

Her other hand began to prepare poison, attempting to combine several types of toxins.

She discovered a pattern, which was that the more potent the poison, the more violently the gu-insect's two black whiskers would sway and collide.

Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng relied on this to explore the configuration of the poisons.

She prepared another dose of poison and placed it into a specially made cover.

The black whiskers swayed rapidly, very energetically.

She prepared another dose of poison.

The black whiskers swayed until they became a blur.

Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng nodded and attempted to mix these two doses of poison together according to a subjective ratio.

Xiang Xiang Seeing Yin Meng nodded, attempting to mix these two sets of poisons together according to a subjective ratio.

The black feeler stopped moving.

Xiang Xiang Seeing Yin Meng's Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face revealed confusion.

Did it become non-toxic after using poison to fight poison?

Xiang Xiang Seeing Yin Meng used her finger to touch the Gu insect's black feeler and discovered it had become stiff and hard.

Opening her hand, she saw the Gu insect had lost all reaction.

Xiang Xiang Seeing Yin Meng turned her head to look at the cover she used to prepare and isolate toxins, only to discover a small hole had melted through the bottom.

The next moment,

only a sound was heard,

"Thump!"

Xiang Xiang Seeing Yin Meng's head knocked against the bed, and she fainted from her own poison.

(End of chapter)