Chapter 452: Acquaintance

Chapter 452: Acquaintance

“Oooh, oooh, oooh~~!” With the rooster’s crow echoing through the air, the slumbering village of Niu Xin gradually stirred to life.

After washing up came breakfast. In most ordinary households, there was no such thing as breakfast; only during autumn harvest time would people eat three meals a day to ensure strength for reaping. On regular days, two meals sufficed.

But in Niu Xin Village, everyone had breakfast—this was precisely why many people were so grateful to Bai Lingmiao.

To be fed well, to have books to read, and even to share in the grain harvested from their fields—what kind of employer could offer such kindness?

“Hurry! Get up quickly! Make the porridge thick, you’re not even eager to eat! What are you going to do with your life if you don’t work hard?” Lü ZHUANGYUAN knocked repeatedly on his eldest son’s door with his palm.

“Father, we’re rich now. Let’s cook at home,” said Lü Juren’s wife Luo Juanhua, clearly annoyed by yet another early morning wake-up call.

“Are you burning money on your body? You won’t eat free food but instead spend your own to buy grain! A wastrel! Get up!”

With a scolding blow from his handpipe, he turned away and began knocking on the doors of his disciples.

He certainly wasn’t calling them to fight over breakfast—he wanted them to rise and practice basic skills.

Lü ZHUANGYUAN taught them exactly as his master had taught him: strict yet simple. No training, no meal.

Training in opera required starting young. At their age, ten or eleven, they needed to work harder than ever to make it.

Amidst the uneven sounds of their vocal warm-ups, Lü ZHUANGYUAN led his entire family toward Bai Family Compound.

Just as they entered the courtyard, they saw Yang Xiaohai directing two men carrying a pot of hot porridge into the main hall.

A smile bloomed on his face as he stepped inside—but when he noticed his rebellious son, Lü Xiucai, present, his expression instantly fell. “Hmph!”

As for this younger son, he had been beaten and scolded countless times, yet the stubborn fool wouldn’t listen.

And facing his father’s hostility, Lü Xiucai cursed under his breath, muttering things like “old bastard” and “just wait, one day…”

His purchased wife Tao’er stood silently behind them, watching her husband and father-in-law, her mind filled with thoughts.

“Oh my, everyone’s here,” came the grating voice of Gouwa, who then entered with his pregnant belly.

“Yes, she’s due soon. Full-term already, probably just a few days left. My son is about to be born,” Gouwa said cheerfully to Lü Xiucai.

Lü Xiucai sneered. “Did I ask you? Show-off.”

“Heheh.” Gouwa helped his wife sit down, then walked over to Lü Xiucai and whispered, “Xiucai, how’s that divine skill coming along?”

“Same old thing. Can’t read fast enough. What? You want to learn?”

Gouwa chuckled. “I’m not learning that nonsense—it’s too tiring. After breakfast, I’ll go for a walk and wait for lunch.”

“My four mu of land is being farmed by others. Just wait for the harvest. Nothing else to do. Every year brings grain. I’ve endured so much hardship, I deserve some rest.”

Having traveled south and north with Brother Li for so long, he hadn’t gained much in martial arts, but he had gained wisdom. There weren’t many free gifts in this world—especially not in the realm of divine powers, which were dangerous if not mastered properly.

In truth, what he really intended was to wait a few months, until Lü Xiucai showed no signs of trouble, before he himself took up the practice. It was something he’d learned from Brother Li.

“Hmph, all you do is eat and sleep. No ambition!” Lü Xiucai looked at Gouwa with disdain.

“Heh, I have no ambition. Do you have a son?”

While they spoke, Li Huowang descended the steps with Bai Lingmiao. Everyone stopped talking, waiting for them to take their seats.

Though Li Huowang’s skin was gone, making him look terrifying, those present had long grown accustomed to such sights—far worse things had been seen.

Only after Li Huowang sat at the head table and picked up his chopsticks did others begin eating.

Li Huowang ate steamed buns with pickled vegetables and salted eggs, drinking porridge while eating heartily.

“Eat slowly, you’ll starve yourself to death. Nobody’s stealing your food,” Bai Lingmiao scolded.

Li Huowang ignored her complaints and continued eating.

When he started cultivating, time flew. If he didn’t eat enough now, he wouldn’t have anything at noon.

“Oh, no one’s harmed you in Niu Xin Village. Why are you covered in blood?” Bai Lingmiao picked at the dried blood crusts on his body.

“Better safe than sorry. Don’t worry, I won’t die.”

“If you’re not dying, why does it hurt so much? Are you addicted to pain? When I lie next to you at night, I get scared every time you get up to pee.”

Under Bai Lingmiao’s nagging, Li Huowang hurriedly finished breakfast and left the Bai Family Compound. Li Sui was already waiting outside.

The tall and short pair set off along the rugged path toward Mount Niu Xin.

Just as they stepped out of the village gate, white mist began rising from the surrounding woods. Frowning, Li Huowang gripped his purple grass sword and pulled out a blade. “Who’s there? Come out!”

The surge of killing intent sent the mist swirling outward, dissipating rapidly. Then, a wooden mask appeared from within the fog.

“Oh my, isn’t this like a flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple—family not recognizing family? So it’s you, Ejiu!”

“Liu Zongyuan?” Li Huowang looked at the masked man with surprise. He remembered him. Back then, when he and Ji Xiang and Tuoba Danqing searched for Heart Turmoil, Liu Zongyuan had been among them.

Fate was fickle. Of the five who had set out together, Ji Xiang was dead, the mad monk was dead, and Tuoba Danqing was trapped inside Heart Turmoil. Now only these two remained.

Their reunion brought both sighs and a sense of familiarity.

Since Liu Zongyuan was here, it meant he wasn’t pursuing cultivation. Li Huowang immediately brought him into the guest room for tea.

After sipping tea, Li Huowang asked curiously, “Brother Liu, you’ve come all this way today. Is it because the Heaven-Surveying Bureau has assigned you something?”

Although Liu Zongyuan was also part of the Heaven-Surveying Bureau, Li Huowang didn’t believe he had come because of the incident in the capital. After all, back then, he had used the woman’s body of Bei Feng, so no matter how they investigated, they couldn’t find him.

Soon, Liu Zongyuan confirmed Li Huowang’s suspicions.

“Oh, I heard someone had moved in here again. Thought it might be another group of White Lotus cultists, so I came to check. Never expected to meet you here.”

(End of Chapter)