Chapter 513: Uncle, Isn

Wang Lin watched Luo Lekang's party disappear, finally breathed a sigh of relief, and briskly approached Zhang Chengyong, seeing the gravely injured Zhang Chengyong cradled in his daughter‑in‑law's arms, and asked with concern:

"Chengyong, are you alright?"

"Uncle, I, I, I'm fine…"

Zhang Chengyong hadn't finished his words when a mouthful of fresh blood erupted, startling not only Wang Lin but even Zhang Guihua.

Liu Dongzhu hurriedly spoke, "Father, shouldn't we first send Chengyong back?"

"No, no, no need!"

Zhang Chengyong declined.

"You still say it's unnecessary; look at you in that condition—if you don't get treatment, it could become a serious problem!"

Wang Lin let out a cold snort; he wasn't really in a hurry to return. Though he had been away from home for many days, there was nothing pressing awaiting him. He was about to carry Zhang Chengyong back to Zhang Family Village so that De Ben could treat him.

Liu Dongzhu reminded, "Father, why not let the White Lion carry Chengyong back?"

"Can that work?"

Wang Lin was about to have Zhang Guihua help lift Zhang Chengyong so he could be carried, when he heard Liu Dongzhu's words, his face full of worry.

He still remembered that not long ago the White Lion had a proud snout, and when Chengyong approached, the White Lion let out a dissatisfied roar.

It only allowed people from his own family—Dongzhu and Ping'an—to get near; he doubted that Dongzhu could approach except that she benefited from Ping'an's luck.

He didn't believe such a proud White Lion would carry Chengyong back; who knows if the White Lion might throw Chengyong off along the way.

"It's fine, Father, I'll talk to the White Lion; I believe it can understand!"

Liu Dongzhu said something to Wang Lin, her expression firm, approached the White Lion, whispered a description while muttering, and Wang Ping'an, cradled in her arms, wore a strange look.

He never expected his mother to ask the White Lion, in front of it, to help carry his uncle Zhang Chengyong back to Zhang Family Village.

"Mother, my own mother, it's just a beast, not a demon beast nor a spirit beast; though it has a little sentience, at most it can understand one or two words—how could it understand human speech?"

Wang Ping'an muttered to himself, knowing his mother meant well, fearing his grandfather would be overburdened, so she said those words, asking the White Lion to help carry his uncle back to Zhang Family Village; with a thought, using the skill Beast Taming, he conveyed his mother's intent to the White Lion.

"Ah!"

After a long while, Liu Dongzhu finished her request, about to have Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua help place Zhang Chengyong onto the White Lion's back, she saw the White Lion bob its head vigorously, as if responding to her earlier muttering, and she was instantly delighted, exclaiming:

"Father, did you see? The White Lion nodded; it agrees to help carry Chengyong back to Zhang Family Village!"

"Indeed, the lion of Shizi Ling is more spirited than lions from other places!"

Wang Lin praised, feeling a bit surprised yet unsurprised, and couldn't wait to say:

"Old lady, let's quickly help Chengyong onto the White Lion's back, return to Zhang Family Village as soon as possible, and let elder brother‑in‑law treat Chengyong's wounds. Dongzhu, you don't need to help; just stand there and watch!"

Actually.

He still had a sentence left unsaid: this White Lion, indeed attracted by their family's Ping'an, came to rely on Ping'an, and is clever enough to understand human speech.

But now is not the time to brag about Ping'an; the priority is to treat Zhang Chengyong's wounds first. The rest can be boasted about later; there will be plenty of time.

With the help of Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua, and the White Lion's cooperation, Zhang Chengyong quickly climbed onto the White Lion's back, just as Wang Lin turned around, ready to lead the White Lion back to Zhang Family Village.

Chengyong spoke first: "Uncle, I'll ride the White Lion back myself; I don't need you to escort me. Let's go home, because it's getting dark and walking at night isn't safe!"

"Chengyong…"

Wang Lin opened his mouth, about to say something, but before he could speak, Chengyong interrupted:

"Uncle, this place isn't far from Shizi Ling. My father is the Mountain God of Shizi Ling. When I enter Shizi Ling, if I call out loudly to my father, he can hear me. With my father there, my safety need not be worried at all."

"Moreover, with this magnificent White Lion, even if my father weren't here, the other beasts in Shizi Ling wouldn't dare to trouble me. So let me go back alone."

"You shouldn't let this small matter delay your return home."

"Of course, if you stay at our house a few more days, that's no problem!"

"That's not possible; we've already been at your house for a long time, and there are many things at home waiting for us to do, so we have no time to keep staying at your place."

"This novel you to"

Wang Lin shook his head, looked at Chengyong's condition, said no more, and changed his tone: "Chengyong, be careful on the road!"

"Uncle, don't worry, I'm not unscarred; this little wound is nothing…"

Zhang Chengyong wanted to say more, to brag about his prowess, but the pain in his bones made the words catch in his throat, fearing his uncle's family would notice anything amiss, he quickly changed his words:

"Uncle, I'll go back first; later when there's nothing, your family should help ours more!"

Having said that.

Zhang Chengyong gave Wang Lin no chance to speak, hurriedly urged the White Lion to turn and head back to Zhang Family Village. Not long after setting off, once he was sure he was far from Wang Lin's family, he could no longer hold on; with a "Puff!" a mouthful of fresh blood erupted, his whole body weakened, and he fell from the White Lion's back onto the ground.

"Hmm!"

Zhang Chengyong let out a painful hum, his face full of self‑mockery, and said:

"I always thought, having trained under my master for years, I could defeat anyone in Qingyang County, and even in other places, formidable cultivators wouldn't necessarily be my match; even if they could beat me, they wouldn't do so easily!"

His words halted.

In Zhang Chengyong's mind, Ji Nian's face flashed—specifically, the scene where Ji Nian slapped him and sent him flying.

At that time, though he was careless, being struck by Ji Nian's palm made him clearly realize the gap between him and Ji Nian; it wasn't a world‑apart difference, but in front of Ji Nian he couldn't muster any resistance.

His skill was completely crushed by Ji Nian.

It was then that he finally understood what it means that there are heavens beyond heaven, and people beyond people.

"Uncle, Uncle, you may have a talent for martial arts, but you're still too young, and unlike me you're just a regular guy. Even if you're skilled, without any external aid, how could you compare to someone with decades of arduous cultivation?"

Wang Ping'an, controlling the Paper Person, stealthily followed behind the White Lion, ready to escort Zhang Chengyong back to Zhang Family Village, when he saw Zhang Chengyong spurt a mouthful of blood and fall from the White Lion's back, startled. Before he could act, he heard Chengyong's self‑destructive words and thought to himself:

"But Uncle, don't lose heart; you have something others lack—that's me, a good nephew. Who dares…"

(End of Chapter)