Chapter 348

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the two large sacks of books outside the door. "Help me move these into the room."

Chen Xiyuan asked, "Which room are you choosing?"

The wooden house had two floors, with a hall and two rooms on each floor.

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "We'll sleep downstairs; you take the upstairs."

Chen Xiyuan nodded, lifted a sack, and walked into a room on the first floor.

The living room was simple yet elegant. A stone fireplace held burning charcoal embers. A small pebble-lined stream flowed in from the north wall and exited through the south door, with the style of a flowing cup gathering.

Runsheng fetched water and placed the kettle on the stove to boil. Li Zhuiyuan walked over, pulled out a small stool, and sat down. Seeing this, his companions knew a meeting was about to begin.

Tan Wenbin extinguished his cigarette, stood up, and picked up the boiling kettle from the stove. He poured four cups of water, then glanced at Brother Xiaoyuan and poured another. Lin Shuyou sat upright, adjusting his breathing. A-You was always very active and engaged in every meeting. Runsheng widened his eyes slightly, staring at the gurgling water in front of him, while simultaneously completely shutting off his mind. No one spoke; the only sound in the living room was the occasional crackle of charcoal in the stove.

After a long wait, the meeting still hadn't started. Previously, Brother Xiaoyuan had only asked Chen Xiyuan to carry the sacks inside, but she had been in there for a long time and hadn't come out yet. Tan Wenbin stood up and walked to the room's doorway. He saw Chen Xiyuan arranging the books from the sacks onto the desk, categorizing them. It had to be said, she was remarkably adept at being utilized.

Tan Wenbin said, "Miss Chen, we're all waiting for you."

Chen Xiyuan asked, "Is it mealtime?"

Tan Wenbin replied, "Didn't you and Brother Xiaoyuan already eat on the third floor earlier?"

When meals were delivered to the third floor previously, the second floor also received portions, so everyone had eaten at roughly the same time. However, the three brothers' appetites were astonishing; the prepared food was clearly insufficient. When Runsheng asked, "Is there more?", Lord Lion was startled and quickly went to urge them to prepare more dishes. Mainly, Runsheng had previously commented on the taste of lion meat, but no matter how unappetizing something was, it remained food when you were still hungry.

Chen Xiyuan said, "If not for eating, why are you waiting for me?"

Tan Wenbin answered, "A meeting."

The word was new to Chen Xiyuan. She nodded, walked out, followed Tan Wenbin to the living room, sat on an empty stool, and picked up a cup of hot water in front of her. With everyone present, Li Zhuiyuan first provided a brief summary of their current experiences in this "wave," then synchronized the information and deductions he had with his companions, and finally, outlined and arranged their upcoming goals and direction.

This had always been Li Zhuiyuan's habit; he disliked ambiguity and never kept secrets from his companions. The newly revised "Code of Conduct for Jiang-Walking" was mandatory reading for his companions after each "wave," so much so that even Runsheng had to memorize it. A truly effective combat team was never muddled; instead, every member clearly understood the current situation and what needed to be done.

Without hiding anything from Chen Xiyuan, the young man reviewed what had happened between Yu Tiannan, the old dog by his side, and the malevolent entity during the "wave" in the underground cave beneath Dujiangyan. After Li Zhuiyuan finished speaking, Tan Wenbin reiterated the key points and difficulties.

The meeting concluded. Tan Wenbin, Lin Shuyou, and Runsheng walked out of the wooden house. The three of them were now going to explore the village and familiarize themselves with the environment. Runsheng went to the fields. Tan Wenbin went to the ancestral hall. Lin Shuyou went to the orchard and played with the small squirrels.

By the stove, Li Zhuiyuan picked up the kettle and refilled his cup with hot water. Chen Xiyuan placed her empty cup near him. Li Zhuiyuan helped her pour some.

Chen Xiyuan said, "It's a very peculiar feeling. If I were to 'walk the Jiang' with you, it's as if I wouldn't even need to bring my brain; I could just leave it at home."

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Chen Xiyuan's forehead. Chen Xiyuan tapped her temple with her knuckles. "I brought it," she said.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "You should be talking about the meeting's content, not its atmosphere."

The young man sat down.

Chen Xiyuan asked, "Does that old dog also possess the evil entity's memory modification ability?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "To be precise, it's modification, grafting, replication, cutting, and implantation."

Chen Xiyuan said, "If that's the case, doesn't it mean it can live forever?"

Li Zhuiyuan stated, "Yu Tiannan is dead, and that old dog is also dead. In fact, they are both already dead."

Chen Xiyuan asked, "You don't consider the continuation of memory as the continuation of life?"

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "You know 'Spirit Shock,' right?"

Chen Xiyuan replied, "Of course. It's a very common and simple spell; many sects and families have similar methods."

Li Zhuiyuan explained, "If this Spirit Shock spell is used on ordinary people with weak wills, there's a certain probability of shattering their minds and turning them into psychiatric patients. Essentially, this incredible memory dark art is no different from the common Spirit Shock spell; the former merely adds an extra step, making the psychiatric patient believe they have become another person."

Chen Xiyuan said, "That's a fitting analogy, but it can move from one body to another, seemingly endlessly."

Li Zhuiyuan responded, "It cannot be endless. Memories have vitality; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to kill that evil entity back then. Therefore, I'm more inclined to view that evil entity's ability as a contagious disease, one that targets the spiritual and conscious levels."

Chen Xiyuan remarked, "Such a mysterious thing, but after your explanation, why does it suddenly feel so down-to-earth?"

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Only the unknown brings mystery. When I first encountered a drowned person in the small river back home, I also found her incredibly mysterious and terrifying."

Chen Xiyuan asked, "What kind of drowned person dares to swim brazenly to the Dragon King's ancestral home?"

The young man realized that Chen Xiyuan seemed to have a knack for shifting her focus to the most unexpected things.

Li Zhuiyuan stood up with his cup and walked towards his room. He sat down behind the desk and began examining the covers and contents of the books on it.

Yu Dibei was indeed a very sincere person. He said he would fetch books, and he did; moreover, he not only didn't hold anything back but intentionally brought the most valuable ones based on his understanding and knowledge. Even if he was simple-minded and unsophisticated, he still knew the value of these books.

Chen Xiyuan stood at the doorway, tiptoeing to look over the piles of books at the young man seated behind them. "What are you planning to do next?"

"Read books."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"You only have two or three days of free time; how much can you possibly read?"

"Enough."

"So, have you figured out how to refuse the Grandfather?"

"No need to refuse. Soon, others will be guided by the river currents through various coincidences, discovering and entering this place. Then, like us, they will be hosted by the Grandfather. As long as we don't give a clear answer, we'll surely be 'pre-empted.'"

"Then why were we the first ones to come in?"

"Because Heaven favors me greatly."

"That's a bowl of poisonous arsenic."

Yes, if it were truly a good thing, how could it be their turn first? Li Zhuiyuan felt that the Way of Heaven probably wanted him to think he had found a great opportunity, and thus directly drink this bowl of arsenic.

The young man said, "If you're bored, you can wander around the village and ask Tan Wenbin to take some photos for you."

Chen Xiyuan replied, "I'm not that bored. All right, you read. I'm going upstairs to heal and try to recover a bit more."

After the woman went upstairs, Li Zhuiyuan also finished categorizing and organizing all the books on the desk. In fact, not a single book needed to be moved; Chen Xiyuan's initial categorization had been perfectly logical.

Others would deliberately appear inept to hide their true strength, requiring meticulous observation and analysis to see through their facade. Chen Xiyuan, on the other hand, displayed her full capabilities from the start; you had to use that to constantly correct any misconceptions her appearance might give you.

He picked up the first book and opened it. Li Zhuiyuan's gaze immediately sharpened slightly. The title on the cover offered no details, but the text inside was clearly handwritten, not even neatly copied, as the handwriting was uneven, more like a student's study notes. Below many paragraphs of the main text, personal insights were directly written in different colors using a cinnabar pen. This meant that Yu Dibei hadn't given him textbooks, but rather his own "Zhuiyuan Secret Scrolls," compiled from textbooks and complete with answers.

Was it to curry favor with Chen Xiyuan? Li Zhuiyuan immediately dismissed this guess. Yu Dibei certainly had a good impression of Chen Xiyuan, but it was merely a sentiment born of affection, respectful in its boundaries, and kept hidden in his heart. He wouldn't do something so presumptuous and abrupt. Besides, it was he who had asked for the books, not Chen Xiyuan.

So, was he simply a genuinely good person? Because that memory was sealed, did Yu Dibei now appear exceptionally pure and simple?

Li Zhuiyuan decided to remove the "Health Cultivation Classics" he had originally planned to transcribe for Yu Dibei and replace them with information of equal value, thereby offsetting this karmic debt of kindness. He would provide what protection he could to the Yu family members in this village, helping them preserve their lineage as much as possible through the coming terrifying "waves." This would fulfill his respect for the Yu family's past Dragon Kings and Granny Liu's request to "lend a hand." As for "Yu Dibei," Li Zhuiyuan truly couldn't help him, nor could he "lift a hand" for him.

The Qin and Liu families no longer possessed 'spirit' and couldn't withstand this overwhelming backlash. The Dragon King Chen family still had their 'spirit'; she, indeed, could offer some help. Li Zhuiyuan took out his wordless book and opened it to the first page.

In recent days, the young man hadn't preemptively drained the "Evil Book," truly allowing it to enjoy a period of thriving. The woman in the cage on the first page had become bloated.

Li Zhuiyuan placed his right hand on the "Evil Book," while his left hand rapidly turned the pages. The young man's gaze was serious, and the pages rustled like wind blowing through leaves. After finishing one book, he immediately picked up another and continued flipping through it. Although Li Zhuiyuan usually read quickly, he couldn't possibly be this fast, nor could his mental energy endure it. However, these books contained Yu Dibei's well-noted understandings and insights.

The young man could be said to have enjoyed the same treatment Tan Wenbin received from him. The woman's image in the "Evil Book" underwent the following transformations: bloated, voluptuous, well-proportioned, bony, skeletal, a pink skeleton, and finally, turning to ash.

Li Zhuiyuan finally finished flipping through all the books on the desk. The text was all memorized. For now, he would understand it according to Yu Dibei's notes, and later, when he had time, he would ruminate on it further and verify it through comparison. Li Zhuiyuan leaned back in his chair and tiredly picked up the cool water in front of him.

Outside, it was already dark. As the young man took a sip of water, he heard the melodious sound of a flute. The flute's sound seemed to possess a special magic, capable of calming inner anxieties, easing fatigue, and immersing one's senses. Naturally, it was Chen Xiyuan on the second floor playing the flute. However, she wasn't deliberately playing for Li Zhuiyuan; she was simply relaxing herself after getting tired from healing.

While others, after doing what they could for healing, could only rely on rest and recovery, she could accelerate her wound recovery through her own 'domain.' Following the flute's melody, Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and took a short nap.

When he opened his eyes again, the flute music had stopped. Chen Xiyuan came downstairs; she had showered and washed her clothes, drying them quickly using a special method, but some minor damage to the garments remained.

Chen Xiyuan asked, "Little brother, how much have you read?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "I'm tired of reading."

Chen Xiyuan said, "I want Brother Tan to help me exchange for two sets of clothes from the village. These clothes are torn, and I don't know how to mend them."

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Why didn't you bring more sets of clothes?"

Chen Xiyuan replied, "When I 'walked the Jiang' before, not only did my clothes rarely tear, but they also rarely got dirty."

Tan Wenbin and the others returned, carrying rice, flour, cooking oil, and fruits and vegetables. "Brother Xiaoyuan, I told them not to send meals over; we'll cook ourselves." Runsheng was in charge of dinner, Lin Shuyou helped him, and Tan Wenbin went to borrow clothes for Chen Xiyuan, only to return empty-handed right after stepping out. A short while later, Yu Dibei appeared outside the house, riding his Uncle Horse, bringing several sets of clean women's clothing.

After handing the clothes to Tan Wenbin, he immediately rode off, followed by a small yellow dog panting heavily with its tongue out, running behind the horse. The ancestral hall where the young man was temporarily residing was clearly nearby, yet he galloped far away, his figure gradually blurring under the starlight until it vanished. But he couldn't actually ride very far; the village within the formation, including the surrounding rivers and farmlands, was only so big, just like his true life, which was so short.

The next morning, Li Zhuiyuan finished transcribing his book and had Tan Wenbin deliver it to Yu Dibei. In the afternoon, Li Zhuiyuan also came out to wander around. This place was both a farmhouse retreat and a zoo, with many sights to see and enjoy. Li Zhuiyuan saw Runsheng in the field, playing tug-of-war with a group of oxen after they had finished plowing. On one side were the oxen, and on the other, Runsheng. Runsheng "lost"; he fell to the ground. The oxen happily gathered around, then all lay down with him, basking in the sun together.

Tan Wenbin was busy "looking closely" everywhere, taking photos of architectural details, waterwheels, mills, and the harmony between people and animals. Lin Shuyou was in the orchard, playing a military training game with the squirrels who had finished their day's work. He held a baton, and the squirrels marched in formation.

Everyone was having a great time, but deep down, they couldn't help but sigh: If only this place were truly a paradise. But the real Yu family was already occupied by a group of beasts, turned into a cage that fed on people. Even the existence of this place was built upon the meticulous arrangements of that old dog.

Today, the Grandfather didn't send anyone to invite them to a feast, nor did he try to urge or test them; he was afraid of disturbing the two distinguished guests.

Early the next morning, Li Zhuiyuan, who had just woken up, pushed open the window and saw a vulture flying towards the entrance of the formation. The second group of distinguished guests had arrived. Li Zhuiyuan activated the formation he had set up in the wooden house, completely isolating it from the outside world. They were "villains" who aided evil, and could not associate with righteous individuals.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't want to start a fight with them here; such a confrontation should at least wait until they entered the Yu family compound. As for them, they probably didn't want any conflict here either, as it would spoil their image in the eyes of the Grandfather and Yu Dibei. Many people had come this time.

Yu Dibei stood high on the hillside, watching people continuously walk in from outside the formation—no, it was a crowd. He could hardly believe his eyes. Having learned from the previous experience, he naturally wouldn't rush down and start a fight without a word like last time. Besides, the Grandfather's bald python had already flown over, announcing their identities.

Yu Dibei murmured, "Distinguished guests... so there can be this many?"

Among this group, many men were distinguished in bearing, and the women were spirited and vibrant. Simply standing there, they exemplified what it meant to be favored children of heaven. Compared to them, Yu Dibei felt like a sweet potato just dug from the earth, still covered in a lot of mud.

Zhao Yi said, "It seems too easy to get in here. How have these surviving Yu family members managed to cling to life here for so many years?"

A charming woman holding a folding fan beside Zhao Yi smiled and said, "Brother Yi, why worry so early? Since the river has pushed us here, there must naturally be a predetermined fate for it."

"Miss Ming means that things will take care of themselves when the time comes."

Zhao Yi looked at the radiant and captivating Miss Ming, Ming Yuwan, who came from a noble background. The folding fan in her hand was said to have been carried by her grandmother during her own Jiang-walking journey. She was the closest to him among this alliance in daily interactions, and at the same time, the one who had left the deepest mark on him. Zhao Yi had to tear off the skin on his thigh and wash it several times to barely remove the hidden fragrance she had left inside him. For marks left by others, he suppressed them, not wanting to openly fall out, maintaining an unspoken understanding. But the fragrance she left, over time, would turn into a potent poison, not only eroding his flesh but also corrupting his soul.

When she discovered this, she even sought him out specifically, asking why he treated her differently. Zhao Yi knew she wasn't malicious; she simply didn't regard him as a human being at all. This was likely related to the fundamental cultivation technique practiced by her Ming family. According to rumors, each time a Ming family member advanced a level in their core technique, they had to endure immense pain, stripping away and sealing a portion of their own soul, otherwise they would lose emotional control and develop a perverse personality.

Zhao Yi suspected that the current Ming Yuwan deserved a good beating.

A man carrying a long cloth-wrapped object spoke, "It seems there are too many of us. How many people are in this village? They probably can't host us all."

Ming Yuwan said, "Have your subordinates retreat outside. I also find it too noisy."

Everyone gave orders to their subordinates, and in a moment, most people retreated backward, leaving the formation. Only twelve people remained in place. Yu Dibei also walked down from the slope at this point. Once he stood before them, he began to perform the Yu family's formal greeting.

All twelve people, even Ming Yuwan who had just been smiling cheerfully, sobered their expressions and became serious. Everyone half-turned, accepting only half of the full bow. After Yu Dibei finished his greeting, Zhao Yi stepped back two paces. The eleven people standing in front of him, in order from left to right, returned the bow in succession.

Since he hadn't expected more distinguished guests, even though he had been embarrassed last time, Yu Dibei hadn't gone back to cram and review the formal greeting. With twelve people returning his bow, his mind genuinely struggled to process it. However, after each person returned the greeting, they retreated without offering any further self-introduction. This brought a sigh of relief to Yu Dibei. They all knew who he was, but he couldn't determine their surnames, and the young man feared he would be rude or fail to host them properly.

In truth, given the current state of the Yu family, being able to formally exchange the family greeting was already a great sign of respect. After everyone else had returned the greeting, Zhao Yi then stepped forward three paces. After returning the bow, Zhao Yi smiled at Yu Dibei:

"Zhao Yi of Jiujiang."

For some reason, Yu Dibei felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart and replied:

"Yu Dibei of Luoyang."

When that name was spoken, everyone's gaze immediately fell upon the young man. Yu Dibei, Yu Tiannan—it was hard not to wonder if this young man was related to that Dragon King.

"Distinguished guests, the Grandfather is waiting for you. Please follow me."

Following the same procedure and path, everyone arrived at the three-story building next to the ancestral hall. After ascending to the second floor, the leopard lying there widened its eyes. Lord Lion, who had just finished catching poisonous insects and brewing a fresh pot of tea, also stood up in surprise.

"Guards... guards must stay... stay here."

Although he was very afraid, Lord Lion still forced himself to fulfill his duty. No one left the group. Yu Dibei whispered, "Lord Lion, these are all distinguished guests. Their guards have all stayed outside and didn't follow them in."

"Then... then please go upstairs... the Grandfather is waiting for you."

Lord Lion breathed a sigh of relief. No guards, that was good; he didn't want to chat and drink tea with guards anymore. After they all went upstairs, Lord Lion wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and deliberately said to the leopard in a relaxed tone: "Isn't it strange? When did distinguished guests become so worthless?"

The Grandfather hadn't told them that a group of people had already arrived the day before yesterday. She was as emotional as the first time, tears welling in her eyes. From recounting the story of the Yu family's downfall to kneeling before everyone and pleading, it all seemed very natural. To prevent any flaws from showing, she specifically adopted the image of a benevolent old grandfather today, precisely to prevent them from noticing any potential repetition in her details.

"To apprentice with us... for Jiang-walking?"

When they heard this, everyone's eyes grew fervent. It was an enormous stroke of luck!

The banquet ended. Everyone stood up.

Ming Yuwan said, "Everyone, let's at least maintain our dignified identities. Let's not make a chaotic rush. This is what we'll do: according to the order in which we returned the greeting earlier, we'll go one by one to negotiate and state our conditions. Finally, let Yu Dibei choose, and he will decide which of us to apprentice with."

Everyone nodded in agreement with the proposal. After all, they couldn't set up a martial arts arena here and fight it out, with the winner taking the "prize." If there were only two people, this method would be suitable, but here, there were twelve.

Seeing this scene, the Grandfather was incredibly excited. This group of distinguished guests was much more straightforward than the previous ones; they seemed to have no hesitation whatsoever. But the Grandfather also felt somewhat uneasy, fearing she might offend the previous group of distinguished guests. So she personally went downstairs and sent the leopard to deliver a message. Regardless, as long as she had delivered the notification, as for which one would take Yu Dibei as an apprentice, they could fight among themselves.

The "interviews" had begun. Some were queuing, others were waiting.

Zhao Yi, who was last in line, waved to the group, saying he was going out for a walk to get some air. Walking out of the wooden house and onto the road, Zhao Yi couldn't help but let a faint smile play on his lips. He felt that although he was the last to be interviewed, his chances of success were actually the greatest.

What if your family backgrounds are all top-tier? That might not be your advantage, but a disadvantage. Because only I, like Yu Dibei, have no family left. Furthermore, when he had returned the greeting earlier, he had proactively introduced himself. He had sensed that the young man was touched by his actions.

Therefore, he wasn't the last to be interviewed; he was the first! Let the eleven of you talk first, promising family connections and future prospects, until that young man is numb and bored. Then, I, who am different, will go up and offer a breath of fresh air.

Should he play the "fresh breeze" card? Or the "righteousness" card? Or perhaps the "sob story" card? Or, when it was his turn, should he directly use a feigned retreat as an advance: "They have good family backgrounds, so choose them. I can't guarantee your future development; often, I can barely take care of myself and have to rely solely on my own efforts..."

Zhao Yi walked along, mentally scripting his plan. As he walked, he saw a leopard racing across the roof of a side house. It seemed to have reached its destination; the leopard leaped down and charged towards a two-story wooden house. Then, with a "thud," the leopard was flung backward, crashing to the ground. The leopard looked very wronged and let out a few soft cries towards the house, its voice thin, like a kitten. But the house's door restrictions showed no sign of opening.

The leopard got up and ran back even faster. Anyway, the message had been delivered; if they themselves didn't open the door, then whatever happened next was no longer the village's concern. Zhao Yi stopped in front of the wooden house. If the leopard hadn't crashed into it right in front of him, he wouldn't have noticed there was a formation there at all.

"What an exquisite method of concealment, using a cloaking formation to encompass a protective formation. Before, I'd only seen that fellow named Li use this..."

"Creak."

A bedroom window on the first floor was pushed open from the inside. Li Zhuiyuan stood behind the window, meeting Zhao Yi's gaze. Without pausing or speaking, the young man closed the window again.

Zhao Yi stood frozen in place. Then, a massive wave of fear washed over his entire body.

"Damn it, I can't take this opportunity!"