Chapter 325

"The Emperor is wise!"Zhao Yi bowed deeply towards the large fire before him.

In truth, what Zhao Yi was thinking was: "The Emperor's life is still the most comfortable!" Sitting comfortably at home, with the Bodhisattva seemingly at his beck and call, and a new wave of Zhao family underworld constables, shackled, arriving automatically at his doorstep. Meanwhile, merit continued to flow to him through his disciples. However, Zhao Yi wouldn't say these things openly now.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Done."Zhao Yi: "Thanks for your hard work."

The two walked side-by-side out of the ancestral hall's back door, then took a slight detour to the outer residence garden.

Even from that distance, waves of weeping could still be heard coming from the ancestral hall.

Zhao Yi pointed to a rockery in the pond ahead and said, "Old Tian used to love carrying me and sitting there to play."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Could you even play back then?"

Zhao Yi: "There were fish in the pond. I liked watching them. Like me, I could only squirm around in bed."

As he spoke, Zhao Yi stepped onto the stone lotus leaves, reached the central rockery, and waved for the young man to join him.

Li Zhuiyuan followed, and they both sat on top of the rockery, hidden from outside view by a potted tree.

Zhao Yi reached into a crevice and pulled out a well-preserved rattle drum, old and bearing moss marks.

When shaken, it still rattled "guang-dang, guang-dang."

Zhao Yi shook it in front of the young man, half showing off, half enticing: "Hey, do you like it?"

He could understand the emotional depth people felt at certain times, but he couldn't fully integrate into it yet. However, at least for now, he didn't think Zhao Yi was doing something meaningless; perhaps meaninglessness itself was a purpose.

"Want it?"Li Zhuiyuan didn't even glance at the rattle drum.

Zhao Yi shrugged, carefully wiped the rattle drum, and put it into his pocket.

"We have a custom here: if a child is often ill or prone to misfortune, you make them a rattle drum and put a lock of their hair inside. When the child plays with it, shaking it, it's believed to ward off illness and disaster. Old Tian made this drum for me himself."

After speaking, Zhao Yi reached out and turned a stone in front of him.

He had already deciphered and mastered all the formations and restrictions of the outer residence. At this moment, he was effectively its controller.

"Rumble."The ancestral hall roared, and the birds on its upturned eaves spat fire.

The Zhao family members, who had been crying and shouting moments before, now frantically screamed and ran out.

Some must have fallen or been trampled in their misfortune. Of course, a few exceptionally determined individuals likely chose not to leave the ancestral hall, intending to perish with the Jiu River Zhao family.

Zhao Yi ignored them. If they wanted to be buried there, so be it; he wouldn't mind lending a hand to cover them with earth.

The ancestral hall collapsed, and the various courtyards began to crack. This terrifying, earth-shattering commotion chased the Zhao family members as they fled.

After they had all run out through the outer residence's main gate, Zhao Yi stood up, clapped his hands, and bursts of flame erupted from everywhere. Soon, the entire Zhao mansion was ablaze, with thick smoke billowing upwards.

"Alright, let's go too."

Zhao Yi and Li Zhuiyuan descended the rockery. As soon as they exited the main gate of the mansion, before even stepping down the stairs, Zhao Yi stopped, a smile playing on his lips.

"I haven't even walked out yet; at least for now, I'm still considered a Zhao family member. You people, you couldn't even wait for such a short while. Honestly."

Zhao Yi vanished from his spot.

Li Zhuiyuan stood still, waiting for him.

Soon, people were thrown over, landing behind the young man. Their bodies were contorted, indicating they had been dealt with harshly.

These were spies sent by local and nearby forces in Jiujiang after hearing of the "special disturbance" at the Jiu River Zhao family.

Most of them were guests who had attended the Zhao family patriarch's birthday celebration that day.

This was the martial world: the death of any 'big fish' would immediately attract a host of smaller fish and shrimp eager to feast on the carcass.

Zhao Yi himself was responsible for destroying the Zhao family today. He wasn't sad... though, of course, he wasn't ecstatic to the point of losing his mind either.

He felt an unspeakable knot of frustration in his heart and wanted to vent. It was as if, when he was feeling sleepy, a human pillow was conveniently provided.

Zhao Yi returned. A multitude of bodies lay scattered haphazardly at the entrance of the vast Zhao mansion.

Zhao Yi beckoned with his finger towards the inside of the gate. The flames surged instantly, and the gate was now blazing like an incinerator.

Bending down, he picked up a person and threw him into the gate. A scream immediately followed.

"Whoosh..."Zhao Yi found the sound very pleasing.

He picked up the second, threw it;He picked up the third, threw it;Throw, throw, throw, keep throwing.

A smile gradually appeared on Zhao Yi's face as he threw.

"Hey, Li, want to try it too?"

Li Zhuiyuan walked down the steps and headed outside, not intending to wait for him.

Seeing this, Zhao Yi kicked the remaining people inside, one by one. Then, with a wave of his hand, the mansion gate closed, with only wisps of smoke continuously escaping through the cracks.

After a final glance at the outer residence, Zhao Yi turned, slightly raising his arms outwards, his fingertips forming a "lanhua" gesture, and skipped down the steps.

Nothing else, just a light body.

Li Zhuiyuan, who had already gotten into the car and was sitting in the front passenger seat, watched Zhao Yi approach, spinning and dancing.

Opening the car door, he sat in, still swaying his body and singing, truly embodying what it meant to be frivolous.

"Hey, Li, I need to arrange Grandma Liu's trip tomorrow. When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"So eager to return to Nantong?"

"Not to Nantong first, but to Jinling."

"Something important?"

"University final exams."

"That's quite important then."

He started the car and drove towards Mount Lu.

They hadn't driven far when it started to rain outside, and the rain grew heavier. Zhao Yi turned on the windshield wipers.

"Hey, Li, help me see how long this rain will last?"

Li Zhuiyuan opened the car window, looked up at the weather for its feng shui implications, and replied:

"Not long. It will stop before dawn. There will be fog tomorrow morning."

Zhao Yi smiled: "That's when our Jiujiang is most beautiful."

Li Zhuiyuan reached into the car's glove compartment, took out a bottle of water, frowned at the brand, and put it back.

"Don't like our local purified water?"

"No."

"I think it tastes quite good; it has a local flavor."

"Purified water needs added flavor?"

"Right."

Zhao Yi stopped the car in front of a small convenience store that was still open. He opened the door, ran out into the rain, and when he got back in, he had two cans of Jianlibao in his hand.

"Here you go. No straws at this store, so just make do."

With a "psssht" sound, he opened one and handed it over.

Li Zhuiyuan took it.

The two, one big and one small, simultaneously tilted their heads back and took a sip.

Zhao Yi: "I've already become a sworn relative. From now on, Cui Cui is my sworn sister."

Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, not wanting to hear what came next.

Zhao Yi: "Cui Cui calls you Elder Brother Yuan Hou, so that makes me your Elder Brother Yi Hou, right?"

He turned his head and saw the young man feigning sleep.

Zhao Yi felt no regret and continued to enjoy himself. While driving, he even honked the horn a few extra times.

Upon returning to the small mountain residence, Li Zhuiyuan saw Chen Jing, who had emerged from seclusion, with Xu Ming standing behind him.

Chen Jing happily ran towards Li Zhuiyuan: "Elder Brother Yuan!"

Zhao Yi had kept him hidden away, sparing no expense to build his foundation, and the results were very evident.

Chen Jing's muscles, bones, and skin had all been developed to an extremely high level. He was like a reservoir built to high standards, just waiting for water to be channeled in.

Xu Ming looked much older and more weathered. He had put in a great deal of effort caring for Chen Jing these past days, and now, finally, he could rest.

Zhao Yi: "Perfect, Xu Ming. Starting tomorrow, you can help me look after Ah Yan and Ah Li."

Xu Ming paused, then nodded with a wry smile.

Chen Jing clenched his fists and said, "Elder Brother Yi, you should have let me out sooner. Then I could have helped you beat up the bad guys."

Zhao Yi: "Indeed, I regret it too. I killed quite a few Zhao family members today. If I'd known, I should have saved a few for you to see some blood and hone your skills."

Chen Jing: "Zhao family members?"

Zhao Yi: "Hey, Li, are you really not staying one more day? If you miss this scenery, it'll be hard to encounter it again."

Li Zhuiyuan: "The scenery missed is the most beautiful."

Zhao Yi smiled, not pressing him to stay further.

Early the next morning, Li Zhuiyuan and three others boarded a large truck and headed directly for Jinling.

Zhao Yi, driving a jeep, parked it outside the Jin family's courtyard gate.

He went inside and had a free breakfast made by Ah Ping. When everyone was about to leave, Ah Ping picked up her carrying pole; she was going to set up her stall to sell crispy candy.

But seeing them so gleefully heading out to play today, Ah Ping didn't want to sell candy at her stall; she wanted to go play with them too.

However, Ah Ping was too shy to say anything. She just picked up her carrying pole, stood under the eaves, lowered her head, and fidgeted with her fingers.

"When you go out to play, you don't need to bring so much candy. You won't finish it. Just bring a little to tide you over on the way, as things in tourist areas are expensive."

Liu Jinxia reached out, took the carrying pole off Ah Ping's shoulder, took two large pieces of crispy candy, and then took Ah Ping's hand, leading her out.

Ah Ping was incredibly happy, sitting in the car with Cui Cui, pointing and chatting non-stop about things outside the window, just like little girls.

After a day of fun, Zhao Yi drove them back.

Ah Ping was about to prepare dinner, but Liu Jinxia stopped her.

"Zhao Yi."

"Yes, Grandma."

Liu Jinxia pretended to reach into her pocket for money: "Go to a restaurant outside, buy a few dishes, and get plenty of rice..."

"Got it."

"Come back, I haven't given you the money yet."

"I'm showing filial respect to my sworn grandmother; why would I need money?"

Zhao Yi ran out.

Liu Jinxia took her hand out of her pocket and said with some surprise:

"This grandson is quite useful."

Cui Cui: "Elder Brother Yi Hou is so kind."

Liu Jinxia retorted, annoyed: "Whoever takes you to play and buys you things, you think they're good, right? What if someone is kind to you in the future and then wants to be your father?"

"Let them be, then. I have classmates and friends now, but Mom doesn't."

Liu Jinxia: "You're quite generous, aren't you."

Finding a stool to sit and rest, Liu Jinxia remarked to Xiang Hou beside her, "Honestly, Xiang Hou, even if you choose another and have another child, by the time they grow up, Cui Cui will be an adult. Anyway, all my savings are going to Cui Cui, skipping a generation, even if you have another grandson."

Li Juxiang: "Mom, there you go again. In this life, looking after Cui Cui and you is enough for me."

"Your mother has lived long enough to know how hard it is to live alone. I'll get old and die, and Cui Cui will grow up and leave. Then you won't even have anyone to talk to. As parents, we don't ask for much, just that you live well."

From a crack in the window behind, Jin Xingshan let out a sigh.

Li Juxiang: "Ah, is there a radio inside? I thought I heard erhu music."

Liu Jinxia: "Is there? I didn't hear anything."

Li Juxiang: "It's gone now. I must have misheard, it was just the wind."

Liu Jinxia: "Hm."

"Mom, since we're already in Jiujiang, do you want to go ask at the local police station?"

"Why bother with that effort?"

"Still, why not ask? What if?"

"No 'what ifs.' Don't ask."

"Mom, why have you changed your mind again? We clearly agreed on this when we came, and you promised. Regardless of whether we find anything or not, at least trying would give you peace of mind."

"No more searching. There's no need to search."

Seeing her mother's firm stance, Li Juxiang decided not to persuade her further. She got up and went to the main room to find Cui Cui, who was playing with Ah Ping.

Ah Ping was so good to Cui Cui; she was willing to let Cui Cui play with things that were obviously very valuable.

Liu Jinxia stood up and went to the kitchen, intending to organize the bowls and chopsticks they would use later.

She casually checked the thermos. Ah Ping had gone out to play that morning too, so she hadn't had time to boil water.

Liu Jinxia poured water into the pot, sat behind the stove, took out matches, lit some dry grass, and began to boil water.

Behind her was a neat pile of firewood that Ah Ping had tidied. Liu Jinxia grabbed a handful of wood, put it into the stove, and when she turned to grab another, she noticed a crack in the smoke-blackened corner of the wall behind her.

Liu Jinxia turned sideways and reached in to pry at it.

After prying for a long time, she pulled out a rattle drum.

Liu Jinxia sat back down, staring blankly at the child's toy in her hand.

She shook her wrist, and it rattled "kuang-dang, kuang-dang."

She shook it again, and her tears burst forth.

After taking care of Cui Cui, Li Juxiang also came to the kitchen.

"Mom, Mom, are you here?"

At first, there was no response.

But the stove was burning, and there was a glow of fire behind it.

Rounding the back, Li Juxiang saw her mother, hunched over the straw pile, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mom... what's wrong?"

Li Juxiang stepped forward worriedly, placing a hand on Liu Jinxia's shoulder.

Liu Jinxia abruptly shook off her daughter's hand, forcefully blinked away her tears as she sat back down, and explained with a stiff neck:

"I haven't cooked on a stove for so long; the smoke makes my eyes sting. The doctor said my eyes shouldn't be exposed to smoke after my cataract surgery."

"Then I'll do the cooking."

"Okay."

Liu Jinxia got up and left the kitchen as if fleeing.

Zhao Yi walked back, carrying a large stack of dishes in both hands.

Fearing they weren't accustomed to spicy food, Zhao Yi personally watched the chef prepare all dishes except for a few specialties, worried the chef might instinctively add too much spice.

Arriving at the courtyard gate, he saw Liu Jinxia leaning against the gate wall.

She was clearly waiting specifically for him.

"Grandma?"

"Ah, Zhao Yi..."

"Please don't be so formal, Grandma."

"Alright, grandson."

"Yes, your grandson is here."

"Is Ah Ping the only one left in this compound?"

"Yes, only Ah Ping is left. You must have noticed, Ah Ping's mind here..."

"Well, I'm not stupid. How could I not see that Ah Ping is still a 'child'?"

"Sigh, the original owner of this compound was from a scholarly family, and their living conditions were quite good. They originally had a daughter, but one day, she was abducted by human traffickers. From then on, the parents lost their appetite and tirelessly searched for their daughter, but in the end, they couldn't find her. Later, they adopted Ah Ping, who had been abandoned by her birth parents, and poured all their love for their own daughter into Ah Ping. After that, the original owners of this house passed away. The neighborhood committee is aware of Ah Ping's situation and provides some extra daily care. This compound is temporarily rented to tourists, and the income is saved for Ah Ping. When Ah Ping is no longer here someday, this place will likely be designated and preserved as a semi-cultural relic."

Weaving a fabricated story wasn't actually difficult. As long as you knew what the other person wanted to hear, minor details didn't matter, even if they wouldn't stand up to scrutiny.

Jin Xingshan didn't want to be recognized by Liu Jinxia. To be found and then lost again would be tantamount to subjecting his daughter to psychological torture.

Liu Jinxia's feelings towards her birth parents were also very confused.

For her, the most urgent question was whether she had been abducted by traffickers or sold by her birth parents.

Now, she had heard the "truth."

She had been abducted by traffickers. Her birth parents had not abandoned her; they loved her and worried about her, otherwise they wouldn't have adopted another daughter, Ah Ping, even knowing Ah Ping had a developmental disability.

Liu Jinxia: "Where are the graves of this family's owners?"

Cui Cui didn't understand why, when staying at someone's house, they also had to visit the owners' graves.

But ever since she was born, her grandmother had been involved in this line of work, so she had absorbed it through osmosis.

Following her grandmother, Cui Cui also kowtowed, then squatted nearby to burn paper offerings.

Liu Jinxia had originally intended to control her emotions, not wanting to overdo it.

On the way there, she had been very calm.

But upon arriving at the grave, as soon as her hand touched her parents' tombstone, her emotions burst forth like a broken dam.

She would cry, and she would wail. All at once, the crying in Nantong dialect could not be contained.

Li Juxiang was first puzzled, then suspicious, and finally found it utterly absurd. Looking at the tombstone, she found it hard to imagine that such a coincidence could exist in the world.

So, were her own grandparents buried here?

Logically, she should have been sad and distressed at this moment.

But just as Cui Cui had no emotional connection to her birth father because she had never met him, Li Juxiang also felt unfamiliar with her biological grandparents.

She even felt a little happy inside, happy that this knot in her mother's heart had finally been untied.

However, such emotions certainly couldn't be shown. So she hugged her mother, gently comforting her and wiping away her tears.

Ah Ping, who had been brought along, kept wanting to rush over and dig up the grave.

Fortunately, Zhao Yi noticed in time and restrained her.

After the memorial, Zhao Yi arranged for Liu Jinxia and the two others to go to a nearby tea house, so they could sit down and calm their emotions.

Immediately, Zhao Yi returned to the grave.

Ah Ping, who had secretly slipped away alone, had already started digging the grave with her bare hands, both of which were bleeding and abraded.

Zhao Yi pulled her away, sighed, found a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and then took out some medicinal powder to apply to her.

Ah Ping still stared at the grave, her face filled with anxiety.

But Zhao Yi deliberately glared at her in anger, and Ah Ping became obedient.

After all, she was a "little girl" with the mind of an eight-year-old, and being glared at by a notorious villain who had destroyed his own family was still frightening.

Afterward, Zhao Yi personally dug open the grave and carried out Jin Xingshan, who was lying inside.

Jin Xingshan had a smile on his face; he was very happy.

Lying in the grave, to hear the voices of his children, to hear their farewells, was truly a blessing in life.

He was satisfied, truly satisfied.

Zhao Yi noticed that Jin Xingshan's already dwindling life force was ebbing away at a faster rate than before. His passing was likely just a matter of days.

Seeing Jin Xingshan emerge, Ah Ping smiled, went to his side, and helped brush the dirt off his clothes.

Jin Xingshan remarked to Zhao Yi with emotion, "Heaven has been kind to me, truly."

He could speak, though his voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, but he truly spoke. This was his final surge of life.

However, Zhao Yi did not respond.

Jin Xingshan looked at Ah Ping. Ah Ping reached out, took Jin Xingshan's arm, and placed the old man's hand on Zhao Yi's shoulder.

Zhao Yi turned his head for a glance.

Jin Xingshan: "Child, don't feel guilty. These things weren't done by you; you don't need to burden yourself so heavily. My Jin family ancestors, generation after generation, might have felt suffering and weariness, but they never felt wronged or unworthy. Even I, an unaccomplished one who defied ancestral teachings, only regretted my daughter's suffering. But I myself have never regretted dedicating my life to suppressing the black jiao. True heroes are revealed in turbulent times. If one wishes to become a respected figure, one does not dwell on petty calculations or care about the criticisms of small-minded individuals. This, in fact, was taught to my Jin family ancestors by the Dragon King Zhao. If Dragon King Zhao had wished, he could have left much, much more to his descendants, but he still used his final moments to help suppress the jiao in Jiujiang. A great man, a true hero, should be like this! My ancestor was fortunate enough to witness Dragon King Zhao's back. I am also fortunate to be sitting behind you."

Zhao Yi turned back, glanced at Jin Xingshan, and smiled.

The old man was helping him clear his mind and dispel inner demons. He was very grateful.

But he still didn't forget to tease, asking: "And that one?"

"That one... stands too high. So high I wouldn't dare lay my hand on him."

Zhao Yi smacked his lips a few times, scoffing, "But I'm also the eldest young master of the Zhao family."

Jin Xingshan used all his strength, but in the end, only his fingertips lifted and fell. He had wanted to firmly pat Zhao Yi's shoulder:

"Now, you're also a rogue!"

The guard at the side gate of Haihe University hadn't changed shifts; it was still the same familiar face. But relationships needed maintenance, otherwise they would expire.

Tan Wenbin hadn't been back to school for too long and wasn't confident that his face would be recognized, so he had informed Lu Yi beforehand to arrange for the gate to be opened.

The large truck, laden with valuable materials, drove into the school and parked behind the dormitory building, directly opposite Li Zhuiyuan's dorm window.

Lu Yi: "I've already cleaned your dorm rooms, and I've prepared all the food, drinks, and supplies."

Tan Wenbin: "Thanks, buddy. We're all set here. You can go about your business."

Lu Yi: "Okay, then I'll go unload the goods."

Runsheng: "I'll go with you."

After Runsheng and Lu Yi left, Li Zhuiyuan, Tan Wenbin, and Lin Shuyou went to the dorm.

Tan Wenbin first accompanied Lin Shuyou into his dorm. After helping Ah You settle his things, he expertly opened Lu Yi's box and took out a red sausage.

"Haven't eaten this in a while, really missed it."

Just then, some classmates from their class returned to the dorm.

Everyone was excited to see Tan Wenbin and shouted:

"Class Monitor!"

"Class Monitor, you're back!"

Tan Wenbin took a bite of the red sausage and waved:

"I'm back! There's an exam tomorrow morning, so it's not very convenient. Tell everyone in our class: after the exams, Old Sichuan, my treat! For now, every dorm in our class, both male and female, go to the store and get five cases of drinks to help everyone cool down before the exams! Remember, don't get bottled ones, those are cheap; get canned ones."

Everyone spread the word, and a swarm of students rushed to the store to get drinks.

Tan Wenbin pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Since his classmates gave him face and kept his class monitor position open, now that he was back, he naturally had to show his appreciation.

Lin Shuyou sat down at his desk, took out his book, and continued to study.

Tan Wenbin patted Lin Shuyou's shoulder: "Good luck, Ah You."

"You too, Brother Bin."

"Yeah, I will. I'm heading to Little Yuan's place now."

"Okay."

Tan Wenbin walked out of the dorm, closing the door behind him.

Lin Shuyou had just immersed himself in studying when the door was kicked open by his roommates, who came in carrying cases of drinks.

Originally, this wouldn't have bothered Lin Shuyou; a lively atmosphere in the dorm was normal.

But one of the roommates said to Lin Shuyou:

"Ah You, there's a very beautiful girl looking for you at the dorm entrance! Go quickly!"

"Looking for me?"

"Yes, her name and dorm number are correct. Go quickly, she's incredibly beautiful."

Lin Shuyou first went to the window and looked out. He saw Chen Lin, dressed in a long white dress, holding a small blue bag with both hands in front of her.

She was already in the prime of her youth, and with her pure attire and gentle demeanor, her mere presence there made every male student entering or leaving instinctively glance her way.

Lin Shuyou looked at the study materials on his desk, then at the girl at the entrance.

Ultimately, Lin Shuyou ran downstairs and went to the entrance.

Chen Lin looked at him with a smile.

Lin Shuyou: "Why are you here?"

Chen Lin: "Last night, Brother Bin paged me, telling me your return date to school and asking me to come find you."

Lin Shuyou: "..."

Chen Lin pursed her lips, lowering her voice: "Did I... come at the wrong time?"

Even if Lin Shuyou were duller, he wouldn't nod and say yes at that moment.

"No, no, I'm very happy to see you today."

Chen Lin lowered her head, gently swaying her foot.

They had clearly progressed to a point where they could hug slightly before, yet after some time apart, this big boy acted unfamiliar with her again.

But this feeling made her even happier, providing a sense of freshness and accomplishment, like starting anew.

Chen Lin: "I rushed here by bus and didn't even have time for breakfast."

Lin Shuyou: "Why didn't you drive?"

Chen Lin blinked at Lin Shuyou.

Lin Shuyou's face turned beet red. Oh right, Chen Lin's car had been borrowed by him and the others, and then it broke down on the road.

"I... I'll get you a new car. I have money... no, wait..."

Lin Shuyou suddenly realized that Elder Brother Yuan, Brother Bin, and even Brother Runsheng all had money because they had shares from "Zhuiyuan's Secret Scroll," and silent partnerships in businesses like the store and Old Sichuan.

He had joined later, so he didn't have