Chapter 382

The team set off, first passing through the town.

They passed the shop where they had previously consigned the "Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunyun wood carving."

The boss was sitting on the threshold, leisurely basking in the sun, holding a cup of tea in his right hand and a cigarette in his left.

It was clear that after completing a business deal with zero capital investment, he was in a good mood.

Seeing Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin walking over again, the boss greeted them enthusiastically, his local dialect mixed with a bit of Mandarin, the general meaning being to ask if they wanted to leave contact information so they could come back and take a look if there were good goods in the future.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin went up and offered the boss a cigarette, and the boss also gave one to Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin; the two of them each tucked their cigarettes behind their ears and exchanged contact information.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan, however, curiously asked Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You why, if Zhao Yi and you, A-You, were the closest, he would carve Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunyun instead of Chen Lin.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You was silent.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan patted her own forehead, saying she had been negligent; the one who came out to investigate information was definitely Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin, so it had to be Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunyun carved.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You nodded.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan blinked her eyes.

She still felt something was not quite right.

No logic, purely a feeling.

Having listened to too much from the corner of the bed since she was small, her sensitivity to such matters was just like how old arthritic legs could predict the weather.

Although Zhao Yi and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin had a good relationship, it hadn't reached the point of being particularly intimate; without that layer of deep relationship, going to intricately carve someone else's partner was very likely to cause offense.

Unfortunately, this was not the time to be sitting on the dam-side steps of Master Li's house, and she knew it wasn't appropriate to continue asking in detail.

After Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin returned to the team, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan signaled for everyone to continue on their way, and soon, they left the town and entered the valley.

The valley was not towering, and could even be called somewhat "compact," but after stepping into it, if one proceeded along a specific path, one would soon find mist rising all around.

The function of this barrier was to prevent ordinary people from wandering in by mistake, but for those with a little bit of cultivation, it was equivalent to a guide.

Throughout history, in many strange tales, such a plot has frequently appeared.

It is that some woodcutter, hunter, or scholar, while walking in the mountain forest, suddenly sees a mansion, or sees a secluded peach blossom spring, or sees two old immortals sitting there playing chess.

In fact, many such stories are not fabricated; it's just that their luck was truly too good, or their inspiration was different from ordinary people, and they really did pass through the mist and walk into the territory of such a Jianghu family sect.

The mortal world is full of various disturbances, tangled and hard to sort out, so Jianghu forces with a bit of status will all choose this semi-secluded way of living to cut off most karma as much as possible.

Like the Jiujiang Zhao back then, deliberately building a new mansion in the city was what was abnormal.

Walking out of the mist, a suspension bridge appeared ahead.

On both sides of the bridgehead, there was a stone lion, carved with patterns that seemed to be cracked, but if one looked closely, one could see a strictly symmetrical regularity.

Above the bridgehead, there was a stone plaque with "Zhou Family Mansion" written in the middle, and birds carved on both sides, wings spread as if ready to fly, vivid and lifelike.

Given the Zhou family's status in the Jianghu, this kind of entrance arrangement could be called low-key.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked up to a stone lion, reached out, and touched the lion's belly.

A faint red light flashed from the patterns on the lion's belly, then flashed toward the lion next to it at an extremely fast speed, then quickly teleported to the stone plaque, and then followed the suspension bridge all the way inside.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan waved his hand, signaling to continue moving forward.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You walked at the very front, Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan accompanied Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin brought up the rear.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "There should be an assessment ahead; you should hide your family style."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "I don't mind."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I mind."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Oh, okay."

After crossing the suspension bridge, an open space appeared in front, and behind the open space were steps laid upward, extending to the front of the Zhou family mansion gate.

The ground of the open space was not dirt or rock, but looked like it was covered with a layer of wooden flooring.

An old man leaning on a cane walked out, surrounded by a group of young people.

"Apologies to everyone, my Zhou family has sealed the gate recently and is not welcoming guests; today we are neglectful, and we will make up for it another day."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin stepped forward and said:

"We have come here specifically at the request of Brother Zhao of Jiujiang to help the Zhou family resolve their disaster; what, we can't even enter the gate?"

The old man stroked his goat beard, waved his hand to signal the young people behind him to clear the way, and used his cane to make a gesture of invitation.

The Zhou family must have offered Zhao Yi good conditions, so naturally, there were requirements for the price paid; those who came to help had to be inspected first to test their quality.

The group moved forward, their feet stepping onto the wooden boards beneath them.

The next moment, a large hole caved in on both sides of the floor, and two wooden giant hands reached out and slapped toward the middle.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You scattered to each side; Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng used his Yellow River shovel to block one giant hand, while Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You successfully parried the other with his twin maces.

The ground beneath their feet began to fluctuate constantly, the wood like water, offloading the center of gravity of everyone above.

Wisps of black energy flowed from Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's body, ensuring his strength remained sufficient.

Considering that Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's "Qin Family Dragon-Watching Method" was easily recognized by discerning eyes, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had specifically made some camouflage improvements for Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng.

Changing the pure Qi sea into baleful energy was only a change in form, but it was enough to subvert the cognition of most discerning people, because no one would expect that a member of the Qin family would cultivate an aura like a corpse-lifter.

On the other side, Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You's feet constantly followed the rhythm of the ground, walking as if on flat ground.

This was just a simple assessment, not a life-or-death struggle; being able to pass calmly was enough.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and the other two continued to walk forward; the floor ahead caved in, as if something was about to come out, which was also a form of obstruction.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan walked forward a few steps in advance and stepped down with one foot.

A continuous "crackling" sound came from below immediately, and then the ground leveled out; this was directly crushing the assessment project in its cradle.

The old man's eyes twitched.

If the performance of Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You could be considered a recognition of the other party's strength, then this step by Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan was what truly shocked the old man's heart.

Such a character no longer needed to be tested; the old man's Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face revealed joy, first poking the ground with his cane to restore everything, and then bowing solemnly:

"Thank you all for coming to save my Zhou family from fire and water; my Zhou family will certainly not forget this great kindness and virtue, please!"

What followed was a smooth journey, and when they reached the Zhou family gate, the gate opened automatically.

The space inside the mansion was very large, but because a large number of clansmen had been dismissed in advance, it appeared very desolate.

Being led to the main hall, they saw Zhao Yi and an elegantly dressed old lady drinking tea there from afar.

The old lady's hair was gray, and she was clearly of advanced age, but her skin was as tender as a child's; she was Zhou Zhou Ruiyao, the current decision-maker of the Zhou family.

On both sides below the two, sitting on one side were the Liang sisters, Xu Ming, and Chen Jing, and sitting on the other side were Zhou family members of considerable age, each with an extraordinary bearing.

The old man entered the room first and whispered in Zhou Zhou Ruiyao's ear; Zhou Zhou Ruiyao smiled and nodded, saying to Zhao Yi:

"The helpers invited by Young Master Zhao are indeed extraordinary."

Zhao Yi smiled nonchalantly and said: "Old Lady Zhou knows what kind of reputation I, Zhao Yi, have in the Jianghu; how could those who can play with me and are willing to give me Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face to come and help be ordinary people?"

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao: "Young Master Zhao still likes to joke so much."

Zhao Yi: "Old Lady, let me warn you first, my friends here don't have very good tempers and are quite petty.

They came at my invitation, but your Zhou family set up an assessment outside; no one would feel comfortable with that."

"Regarding this, please rest assured, Young Master Zhao."

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao stood up and took the initiative to welcome Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and the others who walked in, saying:

"For the previous discourtesy at the gate, I, on behalf of the Zhou family, apologize to you all; to express our apologies, the conditions for the offerings for this request will be doubled."

"Ahem..." Zhao Yi, sitting in the back, coughed dryly as a reminder.

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao: "Young Master Zhao's portion will also be doubled."

Zhao Yi bowed and said: "Old Lady is generous."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "I say, Young Master Zhao, we gave you Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face and came to the appointment, but who exactly is this Nantong corpse-lifter Li you mentioned? How come we have never heard of him in the Jianghu?"

Zhao Yi: "This is an incredible character; this person is narrow-minded, vengeful, greedy beyond measure, addicted to killing, likes to cut weeds and pull up roots, and leaves no room for others."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Sounds interesting; then how did the Zhou family offend him?"

Zhao Yi: "The Old Lady and I discussed this for several days and couldn't find the reason, but he has indeed already taken action."

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao: "Everyone, please follow me."

The old lady of the Zhou family led the group to the Zhou family ancestral hall.

Inside the ancestral hall, the candles were bright and there were many plaques; logically speaking, it should be a solemn and clean place, but at this time, all the ancestral tablets of the Zhou family were either moldy or covered in moss; not a single one was in good condition.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "This is... a curse?"

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao nodded: "A few days ago, when I was fast asleep, I felt a sense of malice; after waking up in a fright and coming to the ancestral hall, I discovered this situation.

What you see before you is the scene after Young Master Zhao came and helped to resolve the curse and improve it.

The situation at that time was countless times worse than it is now; the ancestral hall, a pure place, was actually full of snakes, insects, rats, and ants crawling around, and all kinds of poisonous things appeared from nowhere, either gnawing on incense candles or entangling the ancestral tablets, a scene of a broken and collapsing family."

Speaking of this, Zhou Zhou Ruiyao closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears flowed out:

"My Zhou family has always valued family style, and we dislike fighting in this Jianghu even more; our ancestors through the generations were even more obsessed with the research and promotion of mechanism arts; I never expected that we would suffer such humiliation.

I, truly, have failed my family and my ancestors..."

Zhao Yi stepped forward, gently supporting Zhou Zhou Ruiyao, and comforted her:

"Old Lady, rest assured, with me here, this disaster of the Zhou family will certainly be resolved; I have long been disgusted with that Nantong corpse-lifter Li, and this time is just a good opportunity; I want to make him come with courage but have no life to return!"

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao nodded, her tearful eyes scanning the ancestral hall that had not yet returned to its original state again:

"The depth of this person's ferocity is truly rare; it is not just against me, the Zhou family, but he has cursed my entire Zhou family and all our ancestors through the generations; this is clearly intended to cut off my Zhou family's inheritance.

Since that is the case, my Zhou family has nowhere to hide, so we can only spare everything and deal with it with all our might!

Please rest assured, Young Master Zhao, as long as my Zhou family can survive this disaster, in the future, if Young Master Zhao wants to rebuild the Jiujiang Zhao, my Zhou family will definitely support you with all our might; whatever you need, we will not refuse!"

Zhao Yi: "Old Lady, you are truly too polite."

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao wiped away her tears and looked at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and the others: "It is I who have been neglectful; I have not yet asked for your honorable titles?"

Zhao Yi: "Old Lady, for those who can be fox friends and dog companions with me, Zhao Yi, these titles are not worth mentioning."

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao: "This..."

Zhao Yi: "They, well, they only want to take benefits from me, yet they don't want to be burdened by my notoriety. So, it's enough that they've arrived, isn't it?"

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao: "Since that is the case, then I shall maintain my respect. Everyone, I have already ordered people to prepare wine and food. Since you have all come from afar, please enjoy it and rest first. Because I dismissed the clansmen in advance, the banquet is simple and meager, so I hope you will not take offense."

"Old Lady, please rest assured, they can understand." Zhao Yi looked up at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and the others, "Everyone, just eat, drink, and rest first. Although I don't know when that Li the Corpse-Fisher of Nantong will arrive, I estimate it will be in the near future. Once he comes to the door and makes a move, I will naturally call upon you all to come and assist."

After saying this, Zhao Yi supported Zhou Zhou Ruiyao as they walked out of the ancestral hall.

The two were very close, like a true pair of grandmother and grandson.

The old man appeared again and led Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and the others to a separate courtyard, where a sumptuous meal had already been prepared, and the rooms for resting were also spacious and tidy.

The old man: "If you have any other needs, please feel free to say so. As long as we can satisfy them, our Zhou family will do our utmost."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "On the way here earlier, I saw a small courtyard filled with fallen leaves, desolate and dilapidated, as if no one had taken care of it for many years. May I ask why?"

The old man: "That is the residence of a sinner of our Zhou family, paralyzed and bedridden for many years. Every day, apart from a portion of water and rice, the Old Lady does not allow anyone to approach."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "A sinner can still live in a separate courtyard?"

The old man: "That sinner was once a direct descendant of the family. The Old Lady said that keeping him in the residence instead of throwing him into the dungeon is to let him lie on the bed and still hear the noise outside, letting him endure the contrast between cold and warmth, scraping his heart and lungs."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Then he, was he also transferred away?"

The old man: "No, a sinner is not worthy."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Alright, you go and get busy."

"Please enjoy your meal, everyone."

The old man retreated.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan sat down at the table and looked around, confirming that there were no formation barriers here.

The dishes on the table were indeed sumptuous, but they were all home-cooked meals. Truly exquisite dishes require the family's generations-old chefs to prepare them. The current Zhou family indeed lacks this condition, which is also the reason why Zhou Zhou Ruiyao mentioned asking for understanding in advance.

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

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng spread his hands, and the Gu insects flew out, lingering on each dish for a moment before burrowing back into Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's cuffs.

"Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, no poison."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan picked up his chopsticks: "Eat."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan only eats freely when she encounters something delicious; for normal meals, she has the appetite of a bird.

After Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan finished eating and put down his chopsticks, Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan couldn't help but ask:

"When are we making a move?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Wait for Li the Corpse-Fisher of Nantong to make the first move."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Hmm?"

In front of the hall, a living stream flowed down from the roof and merged into the small path of the flower garden below. Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan caught some water to wash his hands and rinse his mouth.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "This is the first time I've discovered that revenge can be so simple."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "First, because my first move of 'beating the grass to scare the snake' was too big and the scale was too frightening; second, although Zhao Yi's reputation in the Jianghu is not very positive, he is now considered a prominent figure; third, Zhao Yi arrived very quickly, and we followed up very quickly, while the Zhou family itself has too many concerns—not only do they have to guard against the so-called Li the Corpse-Fisher of Nantong, but they must also be wary of prying eyes from the Jianghu; fourth is..."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "What is the fourth?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "The fourth is that you almost ended up buried in the Luoyang Ancient Tomb Museum back then; it really wasn't an injustice."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan frowned slightly, then showed a wronged expression: "Little brother, you're still saying I'm stupid."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Not as stupid as before."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "That's a compliment... right?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Much smarter than before."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Hehe."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Accompany me to that courtyard to take a look. I want to go and see that father of Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunfan."

That person who participated in the conspiracy to plot against Master Qin back then.

There were barriers in the courtyard, but this was not difficult for Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan; he casually unraveled them and entered.

Inside, weeds were overgrown, a scene of ruin.

In the corner, there were also broken children's toys.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunfan's father had secretly taken the family's heirloom treasure to light a lamp and walk the river. In the end, not only was he beaten into lifelong paralysis by Master Qin, but that treasure was also shattered by Master Qin.

He completely became a sinner of the entire Zhou family.

Old Lady Zhou used this method to punish him; she truly hated him to the bone, and this hatred also involved Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunfan.

This forced Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunfan to leave the Zhou family at a very young age and go to the Ding family to seek resources and development. Although he went through hardships, he actually succeeded.

It's just that his luck was bad; in that wave at the Yu family, even though he chose to enter through the back door, he still happened to run into him.

Pushing open the door, a fishy stench overflowed.

The room was empty, with nothing but a bed.

On the inner side of the bed lay a man with half-white hair and a withered appearance, and on the other side of the bed were two bowls—one bowl contained a few grains of rice, while the other contained half a bowl of murky water.

He ate, drank, and relieved himself all on the bed, and the servants didn't clean it up in time, making not only this bed but the entire room seem as if it had been pickled.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan covered her nose; she really disliked this environment, but seeing her little brother, not only was his expression normal, but the corners of his mouth even gradually curled into a slight arc.

Also, this scene should be a kind of enjoyment for the little brother, right?

Seeing the enemy of his own family living so miserably must make him very happy.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked to the bedside; there was no place to sit, and he didn't dare to sit.

The man on the bed turned his head, his gaze slowly moving up and landing on Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

His uselessness was not static.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan could perceive that a strand of active Qi remained in his spine.

This Qi would continue to entangle and torture him, preventing him from recovering.

Unless another Qin family member was found, and they had practiced the Qin Clan's Observation of the Flood Dragon Method to an extremely high level, could this Qi be safely extracted. Otherwise, if one were to forcibly disperse this Qi, it would cause this man to die suddenly along with it.

Given Master Qin's character... he definitely didn't do this on purpose to torture him.

Master Qin was hanging on by his last breath when he managed to kill his way out; at that time, Master Qin must have been fighting like a madman.

Therefore, it wasn't that Master Qin deliberately targeted him; his role in that siege back then was inconspicuous, and Master Qin perhaps hadn't even looked at him directly.

However, he had indeed kept the hatred for Master Qin and even passed it on to his son, which consequently also harmed his son to death.

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Who are you..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Do you hate?"

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Hate whom..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan looked around.

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Who exactly are you..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan remained silent.

After a long time, Zhou Zhou Tingfeng said: "I hate, I hate the Zhou family, I hate that the family treated me unfairly, I hate that the family viewed me as a useless person, an abandoned pawn!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "That's right."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "These days outside have been much quieter. Tell me, has something happened to the Zhou family?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Hmm."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Has the Zhou family provoked an existence they shouldn't have provoked outside?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Just about."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Hehehe... Hahahaha..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "There is one thing, do you know?"

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "What thing?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Your son is dead."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng's eyes widened: "What!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Didn't they tell you?"

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunfan, Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunfan he... how is that possible, how is that possible!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "It seems they indeed didn't tell you."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Who exactly are you..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I am a helper invited by the Zhou family to defend against the enemy."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Then why did you come here, why did you specifically come to see me?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I wanted to see, so I came to see."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Are you really here to help the Zhou family?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "What do you think?"

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "I want the Zhou family to die, I want the Zhou family to end up in the same state as me, to collapse, to rot!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Perhaps, it's not far off."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng: "Thank you."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "You're welcome."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan thought the little brother would inflict some torture on the guy lying on the bed, but after the little brother finished saying these words, he turned around and prepared to leave.

"Leaving just like that?"

"Do you like it here? Don't you think it stinks?"

"That's not what I meant."

When Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan walked to the door, the sound of a bowl falling and shattering came from behind, followed by the sound of something like a broken sack hitting the ground. Zhou Zhou Tingfeng, like a puddle of squirming mud, fell off the bed. He struggled to reach his hand forward, pointing at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan:

"Tell me, tell me, what is your surname, what is your surname!"

"What surname do you wish for me to have?"

"I wish for you to have the surname... hehehehe, I have always told them, it is not my fault, it really is not my fault; it is just that they never saw how terrifying that guy truly was.

I do not know if everyone who comes out of that kind of family lineage is like this, but truly, no one expected that a family of orphans and widows could actually cultivate such an existence...

I wish you had that surname; I want to let them experience the despair I felt back then. Only then will they understand me—it really is not my fault, it really cannot be blamed on me!

I am waiting, I am waiting to see, I am waiting to see, hahahaha!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the room.

Inside the room, Zhou Zhou Tingfeng, lying on the ground, was still murmuring: "Fan'er... my Fan'er..."

After leaving this courtyard, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan strolled around the Zhou family residence for a while.

In terms of architectural aesthetics, the Zhou family residence is far inferior to the Jiujiang Zhao family residence he had visited before.

One could wander the Jiujiang Zhao family residence for an entire day without feeling bored, but the Zhou family residence is purely just draped in a decent-looking skin.

The entire Zhou family residence is one large mechanism; generations of the Zhou family have lived on top of mechanisms, and the architectural style is merely a light dusting of powder applied to this foundation.

Symmetrical rockeries, symmetrical flowers, symmetrical trees—even the pebbles in the stream strictly adhere to the number of mechanisms; it is too precise, and thus appears uninteresting.

When Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked among them, his brain would instinctively begin to deduce and analyze, making it feel as if he were constantly taking an exam.

"Let's go back."

"Mm, okay." Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan lifted her arm and sniffed it, "I want to go back and take a shower; the smell of that place simply won't go away."

Returning to their assigned quarters, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin was squatting in front of a small rockery, taking notes with paper and pen for research.

He is a generalist; after following the young man, he reads whatever books he can, though he is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You was lying on the railing of the long corridor, holding a twig in his hand, looking at the murals above.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng was sitting on the threshold of the living room, smoking a "cigar."

Everyone, in fact, had nothing to do.

The relaxation before the tension is the most boring.

When Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan returned, everyone cast their gazes over, all waiting for Little Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan Ge to give the order to start working.

But Little Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan Ge only said one sentence: "Call me when it's time for dinner."

Afterward, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan entered the room, lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to sleep.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan went to take a shower and came out after changing her clothes, her mood much improved as a result.

She now also has a backpack, which Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin prepared for her; it is the same style as theirs, and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin told her this is a benefit for the external team.

Upon receiving this gift, Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan was very happy, holding it in her arms and smiling exceptionally brightly.

The backpack itself is not expensive, and even if it were an expensive designer bag, it would mean nothing to Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan, but the emotional value condensed in this bag is extremely high.

Compared to the others' backpacks, which contain various pieces of equipment and materials, Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan's bag, apart from a few pieces of clothing, was stuffed entirely with Jianlibao.

After coming out of the shower, she originally wanted to find the little brother to drink beverages, but seeing that the little brother was asleep, she walked into the courtyard and, with four consecutive "puchi" sounds, gave one can to each person.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan first squatted beside Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin and asked, "Can you understand it?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "It's like a female classmate at school; I know her name."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "And then?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Then, if I were to crook my finger at her, she wouldn't go for a walk on the playground with me, but would instead roll her eyes at me and ask who I am."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "This is actually not complicated."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin looked at Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan gestured a few times with her fingers toward the small rockery in front of her.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

The rockery split open, spraying out bursts of white smoke from within; it was very fresh and smelled very good.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "This smoke can repel mosquitoes and insects; it is harmless to humans."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "The external team is truly worthy of being the external team. I studied it for a long time and only recognized that this is a mosquito coil, but I didn't know how to open the box."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "I don't understand mechanism arts either, but I have similar things at home."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "So that's how it is."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "But I rarely use them. If I discover there are mosquitoes when I sleep at night, I just open my domain and crush all the mosquitoes in the room to death, and then it's quiet."

"Indeed."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin lowered his head and, following the steps he had calculated in his notebook, waved his hands back and forth toward the rockery.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

The rockery successfully closed.

But the "mosquito coil" did not extinguish; white mist continued to overflow from the gaps, and bubbles continued to roll in the small pond.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "I heard that you and your partner are high school classmates?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Mm."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "That must be very romantic; you were dating back in high school?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "No, I chased her for three years in high school, and she ignored me; later, after we went to college, we were both in Jin Ling. I continued to pester her and threatened her with my life, and only then was she forced to reluctantly agree to date me for the time being."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Although I know what you are saying is fake, I like this story."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Then wait for me to make it up properly, and then I'll chat with you slowly?"

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Okay."

Miss Chen shifted her gaze toward Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and asked Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin in a low voice: "That Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng, how did she get together with Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's family was poor, and he never had enough to eat since he was young. Apart from occasionally scavenging corpses with his grandfather, he herded cattle. One day, he herded the cattle in front of a grave and accidentally broke the tombstone. Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng happened to be lying inside, and that is how she and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng met, and the two gradually developed feelings for each other.

Who knew that Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng was a princess of the Fengdou Hell? When the Great Emperor of Fengdou found out about this, he captured Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Yin Mengmeng and took her back, suppressing her beneath the eighteenth level of hell. Only on the night of the full moon can the two lovers send messages secretly by burning paper."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan took a big gulp of Jianlibao: "Deputy team, this also needs to be enriched; I love listening to it."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Alright, alright."

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan: "Then what about A You?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "A You? Don't look at him as if he looks honest; he is actually a heartbreaker who doesn't know how many times he goes on blind dates in a year."

A few days ago in Jin Ling, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin drove A You to the school where Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunyun is.

Before he helped Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunyun move, A You and Chen Lin were sitting in a coffee shop, sitting opposite each other; when they passed by again after moving, they discovered that A You and Chen Lin were still maintaining the same posture.

Finally, hearing from Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Zhou Yunyun, after the two sat in the coffee shop for an afternoon, Chen Lin said her foot was sprained and asked A You to carry her back to the school dormitory.

This is a girl taking the initiative, wanting to create an opportunity for some intimate contact.

As a result, when A You heard this, he directly took off her shoes and socks, put her foot in his arms, and massaged and set the bone for her.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You, lying under the long corridor, turned his head and looked over here.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin picked up a small pebble from the pond in front of him and threw it toward Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You.

"Look at you, and then look at Zhao Yi; that guy can even handle an old lady!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took a long nap and was only called up when dinner was delivered.

After the young man washed up, he sat at the table.

It was the same as usual; the Gu insects were used to test for poison, and after confirming there were no problems, everyone picked up their chopsticks to eat.

After finishing the meal, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan told Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin to take out money and press it under the dinner tray.

Afterward, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan sat on the threshold, his head leaning against the doorpost, eyes closed, continuing to doze off.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, sitting beside him, extinguished the "cigar" he had just lit.

The sky had already turned dark, and the moonlight tonight was enchanting.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin called Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You and Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan, and the three went up to the roof and started playing a three-person game of Fight the Landlord.

Until,

"Boom!"

A loud noise broke the tranquility of the night.

The old man from the daytime ran over, covered in blood, and shouted:

"The Nantong corpse-scavenger Li is here, he is here!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes and stood up.

The people on the roof tore off the paper strips from their faces and dropped down.

Old man: "The ancestral hall, the ancestral hall, we cannot hold him off anymore, he went to kill, he went to kill the old lady, hurry and save, save the old lady..."

After speaking, the old man's neck went limp, he lost his vitality, and died.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin went up to check and confirmed that he was thoroughly dead.

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan said in astonishment: "The Nantong corpse-scavenger Li has killed his way in, then who are we?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's go, let's save the Zhou family from fire and water."

The group walked out of the courtyard, and along the way, they saw many bloodstains and corpses.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin selected a few bodies to check and confirmed that they were undoubtedly Zhou family members, because Zhou family members all practice mechanism arts, and their hands have fixed calluses in specific locations.

During the day, Zhou Zhou Ruiyao had taken everyone to the Zhou family ancestral hall.

At this time, the flower beds on both sides in front of the ancestral hall were in a mess, with traces of having just been burned by fire, and the floor tiles leading to the ancestral hall were also full of cracks and bloodstains.

Inside the ancestral hall, intense sounds of fighting were coming out, and as for the screams, they were endless.

Zhou Zhou Ruiyao: "Corpse-scavenger Li, where exactly did my Zhou family offend you that you must exterminate my Zhou family like this?"

A man's voice: "Where did you offend me? Heh, go down and ask the King of Hell."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan waved his hand, signaling to enter the ancestral hall.

Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You led the way, one in front and one to the side, while Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Xiyuan took the initiative to move closer to Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin turned around, walking backward while looking behind him.

After everyone had entered the ancestral hall, the previous sounds of shouting and killing instantly fell silent.

"Bang!"

The ancestral hall gates slammed shut with great force.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Gusts of cold wind blew in, circling the perimeter first, then rising continuously, and finally creating hollow echoes and resonance at the ceiling.

This meant that the height of the interior space of this ancestral hall was terrifyingly high.

"Hum!"

Red lamps ignited, triggering a chain reaction; lamp stands appeared on the surrounding walls, illuminating the place completely.

There were no offering tables, no candles, and no spirit tablets; standing before everyone was a massive statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

This Maitreya statue was different from the traditional Buddhist image; not a hint of compassion could be seen on it, and instead, it exuded a sense of eeriness and ferocity.

In front of the Maitreya statue lay a pile of severed limbs and broken shadow puppets; the previous sounds of fighting and talking had all come from them.

On the walls on both sides were rows of recessed niches, similar to the layout of the Longmen Grottoes, but what sat inside were not Buddhas, but people of all shapes and sizes.

These people all had their eyes closed, and there was not a trace of living breath on them.

A rope hung down from above, suspending a person who came to a stop at the chest of the Maitreya Buddha; it was Zhou Zhou Tingfeng.

"Hehehehehe..."

Zhou Zhou Tingfeng let out a chilling laugh.

"Wanting to make a move against my Zhou family... you are courting death!"

Behind Zhou Zhou Tingfeng, the hand of the Maitreya Buddha raised up, and within the walls on both sides, the corpses also raised their hands, performing the exact same motion.

In an instant, a thick, murderous aura spread outward.

Especially at the center of the Maitreya Buddha's forehead, a slit opened up, revealing a chair inside, and sitting on the chair was a corpse.

The corpse was dressed in a kasaya, wearing a Buddhist hat, skin stretched over bone, with a ferocious and twisted expression, and its skin displayed an eerie red color.