Chapter 44

Li Zhuiyuan was still in the exploratory learning phase regarding this method of controlling Death Entities, so he was also quite perplexed by the current situation.

However, one thing was certain: A-Li was definitely not a Death Entity.

So,

Am I the Death Entity?

Li Zhuiyuan genuinely recalled his childhood, confirming that he merely suffered from the same mental illness as Li Lan, not to the extent of being stripped of his humanity and classified among the Death Entities.

So, what exactly was happening now?

This was the drawback of self-study: without a teacher, a complete curriculum, or a full theoretical framework, one might solve complex, advanced problems but be stumped by simple concepts.

Moreover, under these circumstances, individuals with greater learning aptitude were often more prone to going astray.

But,

Since he was already here.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at A-Li, enveloped in the darkness ahead, and took a step forward.

As his foot landed, he felt everything around him rapidly shifting, an sensation infinitely more intense than motion sickness wildly stimulating his consciousness.

Fortunately, it came and went quickly. When his surroundings “quieted down,” Li Zhuiyuan found himself sitting on a small stool, his feet resting on the threshold in front of him.

This sitting posture was very familiar to Li Zhuiyuan; the girl had been sitting like this for a long time during the day.

“Wuwuwuwu… wuwuwuwu…”

It was like both crying and animal growls, near and far.

Just outside the door, a mere line away from the threshold, the scene was oddly realistic yet imbued with an eerie, ink-wash painting style.

A dwarf, only a few inches tall, dressed in yellow, rode a small horse, driving a yellow canopy carriage. It streaked past the door, then turned a corner and sped into the depths of the dark clouds ahead.

A python slithered through the grass in front of the door. The python had only one head, but two snake bodies extended below it, constantly intertwining and weaving as it moved.

In the vegetable patch ahead, several people dressed as farmers were working with hoes. They had water bottles tied to their left sides and their own heads tied to their right.

By the distant riverbank, several women squatted, washing clothes. They continuously beat with their mallets, but what they were striking were not dirty clothes, but crying infants.

The environment outside the door was dynamic; as he moved his eyes, the things he saw outside began to change.

Suddenly, various ghosts and monsters appeared in his vision; some were described in ancient texts, while others were utterly unheard of.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up. The sky was heavy with dark clouds, and a massive, indistinct figure seemed to loom within them.

He tried to focus his gaze, but could never see it clearly.

Li Zhuiyuan turned his head to look behind him. There was an altar table, completely covered with memorial tablets.

At first glance, an inexplicable sense of security welled up.

But soon, a profound sense of loss followed.

Because these tablets were not only dull but also appeared utterly dilapidated, covered in alarming cracks.

Li Zhuiyuan felt that since they were present, they should have some function.

However, in reality, they were dysfunctional. Each tablet had an oil lamp in front of it, but the lamps contained no oil, clearly unable to emit any spiritual light.

Suddenly, Li Zhuiyuan felt that it had become very quiet outside, and the light had also dimmed.

He turned his head to look at the doorway and saw a pockmarked, mottled wall that had completely sealed off the entrance.

Buzz!

The next moment,

A crack appeared in the middle of the wall, then ripped open violently, revealing a huge, slanted eye.

Li Zhuiyuan's mind reeled, and a deafening roar filled his ears.

The scene before him completely vanished. He seemed to have woken up, but he couldn't see or hear.

On the second-floor balcony, the boy opened his eyes blankly. He stood up from the rattan chair and began to sway, getting closer and closer to the edge of the balcony.

Just then, a small hand gripped his, pulling him back.

Li Zhuiyuan stumbled back into the rattan chair, then stared blankly ahead.

It was unclear how much time had passed before the boy regained some sensation, followed by a splitting headache. He clutched his head with both hands, lowering it in pain.

Gradually, he calmed down and turned to look at the girl beside him.

The girl was also watching him, a hint of expectation in her eyes, seemingly awaiting his evaluation.

He had just visited the girl's “home,” her inner heart, and witnessed horrors that would be unforgettable for a lifetime.

Yet, the boy offered no comfort or sympathy. Instead, a smile formed on his lips, and he said in a dry voice:

“How interesting.”

The girl tilted her head slightly, and a faint dimple seemed to appear at the corner of her mouth.

She was very happy.

Children from ordinary families always feel a bit awkward and nervous when bringing friends over to play at their house.

Her home, however, was terrifying. But no matter how terrifying, it was still her home.

At such a time, sympathy, comfort, or encouragement were not what the “host” wanted; in fact, they would only increase her discomfort.

Therefore, the best attitude for a guest was to relax and not make a big deal of it.

Li Zhuiyuan also smiled. He reached out and gently tapped the girl's nose.

The girl watched his hand intently, then slowly raised her own.

The boy leaned forward, and the girl also gently and softly tapped his nose.

Picking up the black book again, Li Zhuiyuan began to review the entire process from before. He felt that he had succeeded in executing the method, even if the outcome was a failure.

Furthermore, he seemed to have found a training method, and A-Li was his sparring partner.

Although, he vaguely felt that the level of this sparring partner might be beyond his current scope.

But the greater the difficulty, the faster his progress would be. At worst, it was just a headache, and he could endure it.

“A-Li, shall we try again?”

The girl nodded.

Then, both lay down and closed their eyes.

The same beginning, the same process, the same visuals… and the same splitting headache.

Just as Li Zhuiyuan was recovering from the second attempt, Aunt Liu's voice drifted up from downstairs:

“Breakfast is ready!”

The feeling was much like playing a few games of chess while waiting for breakfast after waking up early.

Li Zhuiyuan felt he had found a new game to play with the girl.

Breakfast was porridge, served with many types of preserved vegetables. Some were traditional to Nantong, while others suited Grandma Liu's preferences.

Small dishes were arranged on the small table, creating a sense of ceremony.

Unless, of course, you considered Run Sheng and Bin Bin.

Run Sheng always ate this way: he would light incense for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, pour all sorts of preserved vegetables into a basin of porridge, stir it, and then eat it with a ladle, ensuring each spoonful had an even mix of porridge and vegetables.

Tan Wenbin, on the other hand, had completely assimilated.

Li Sanjiang had his left leg crossed, while Tan Wenbin had his right. Both held their porridge bowls with one hand, slurping half a circle along the rim, then used chopsticks to pick a few preserved vegetables into their mouths. As they chewed the vegetables, they scratched an itch with the end of their chopsticks while gazing into the distance.

After the meal, Li Sanjiang lit a cigarette.

Tan Wenbin proactively picked up a match to light it for Li Sanjiang.

Then, before the match extinguished, he pulled a cigarette from Li Sanjiang's pack, put it in his own mouth, lit it, and quickly tossed the match away, shaking his hand rapidly.

Li Sanjiang glanced at him but said nothing.

He didn't understand the word 'rebellious,' but having lived long and seen much, he knew this child was going through that phase.

Most children go through this phase as they grow up, always thinking that becoming an adult is an incredibly impressive feat.

But when his gaze fell on Li Zhuiyuan, Li Sanjiang smiled again, thinking his own Little Yuan Hou would surely not be so childish.

Li Zhuiyuan took out the money exchanged from the gold ingots and handed the bag to Li Sanjiang:

“Great-Grandpa, Old Man Ding and the others came this morning. They said it was urgent and they had to rush back. They didn't want to wake you, so they asked me to pass the money to you.”

“Is that so? Why the rush?”

Li Sanjiang took the black plastic bag and glanced inside, taking several noticeably faster drags from the cigarette in his mouth.

“Oh my, that's quite a bit.”

“Great-Grandpa, that should be enough, right?”

“It's definitely enough. Once the contract money is paid, all the remaining money will be used to plant peach trees. If there's more money, we'll plant them denser; if less, we'll plant them further apart, simple as that. Alright, I'll go sign the contract with the village chief, and then inquire about seedlings in town. Ting Hou, I won't be back for lunch. Ugh, if it weren't for the house, I really wouldn't want to bother with such troublesome matters.”

Li Sanjiang, carrying the bag, walked out. Just as he stepped off the courtyard, his voice was heard:

“Little Cui Hou, are you here to play with Little Yuan Hou?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Go on, then.”

Soon, Cui Cui walked onto the courtyard, her gaze sweeping over Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li, a radiant smile on her face.

“Brother Yuan Hou.”

As she ran over, Li Zhuiyuan held A-Li's hand.

“Brother Yuan Hou, it's my birthday today! My mom is buying me a birthday cake. Will you come to my house for lunch?”

Cui Cui's eyes were full of anticipation; she had always dreamt of having friends celebrate her birthday with her.

“Okay, I'll come.”

“What about Sister A-Li?”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at A-Li and asked, “Do you want to go?”

A-Li looked at the boy and nodded.

Li Zhuiyuan was momentarily stunned; he really hadn't expected A-Li to agree.

In the distance, Liu Yumei, still slowly savoring her breakfast, also looked up in surprise, her face showing delight.

“Then A-Li will go too.”

“Yay, that's great!”

“However, Cui Cui, you need to tell Aunt Xiang Hou to prepare a separate small table. A-Li can't be too close to strangers.”

“I understand. I already told my mom about Sister A-Li last time. I'll make sure Mom gets it ready.”

“I'll go too!” Tan Wenbin raised his hand.

“Brother Yuan Hou, who is he?”

“Zhuang Zhuang.”

“What Zhuang Zhuang? My name is Bin Bin!”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at him and said, “I thought you had already accepted it.”

“I just can't be bothered to argue with your Great-Grandpa,” Tan Wenbin rolled his eyes.

“Alright then, Brother Zhuang Zhuang… oh no, Brother Bin Bin, you come too.”

Cui Cui naturally hoped that as many people as possible would come to her birthday.

Tan Wenbin called out to Run Sheng, who was still scooping up plain porridge with a big ladle in the corner, “Run Sheng, are you coming? There'll be cake.”

Run Sheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan. Seeing Li Zhuiyuan nod, he replied, “Going!”

Li Zhuiyuan told Cui Cui, “Um, Cui Cui, you also need to tell your mom to cook an extra pot of rice.”

“Okay, I will. I'll head back now. You all must come for lunch! Goodbye, Brother Yuan Hou, Sister A-Li, Brother Run Sheng, Brother Zhuang Zhuang.”

Cui Cui skipped back, so happy she seemed as if she wished she could sprout wings and fly.

Tan Wenbin walked over and said, “Little Yuan, should we go to town to pick out gifts now?”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded, “I'll go upstairs to get some money.”

“No need, I have some here.” Tan Wenbin patted his pocket.

To ensure he wouldn't be a burden at their home, his parents had, for the first time ever, given him a substantial amount of pocket money.

“Alright then, Brother Run Sheng, let's take the trishaw to town.”

“Coming!”

Run Sheng picked up his basin, scraped all the remaining porridge into his mouth, then went to the well to wash his face, and then rode out the trishaw.

“A-Li, are you coming to town?” Li Zhuiyuan asked.

A-Li shook her head.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't press her further. The town was crowded, and it truly wasn't suitable for A-Li.

“Wait a moment,” Liu Yumei called out to Li Zhuiyuan. She reached up, removed a pair of earrings from her ears, and handed them over. “These are A-Li's gift from our family.”

Li Zhuiyuan didn't reach out to take them, saying, “Grandma, they're too valuable.”

“They're not for you.”

“But they're really not suitable.”

“Then wait.”

Liu Yumei turned and went into the house, retrieved a wad of cash, and placed it on the coffee table:

“Go buy a gift for A-Li too.”

“Okay.” Li Zhuiyuan didn't take all of it, just pulling out one bill. “Alright, Grandma.”

After the three boys rode the trishaw down from the courtyard, Aunt Liu came over with a thermos of hot water, intending to make tea for Liu Yumei. Seeing the money on the coffee table, she asked with a smile:

“What, he didn't take it?”

Liu Yumei shook her head, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. “That child, he probably thinks our money will sting his hands.”

“Little Yuan is thoughtful, so he tends to overthink things.”

Liu Yumei shook her head. “He doesn't even consider how tough that girl's fate is. No matter how much money might 'sting the hands,' she'd still be able to spend it.”

“I know that girl. The village gossip is that her family members have 'tough fates,' but Little Yuan probably doesn't believe in such things.”

“He doesn't believe it?” Liu Yumei picked up her teacup. “He's even taken a liking to books made of Buddha skin paper. Do you really think he couldn't tell that girl has a 'tough fate'?”

“It's possible. That child always seems to know a lot without saying anything.”

“This is a special period; we can't interfere. Once A-Li's illness is completely cured, the chains on us will loosen. I plan to take this boy as a registered disciple then.”

“What do you plan to teach him then? The Liu family's methods or the Qin family's?”

Liu Yumei smiled and said, as if stating the obvious, “Naturally, it will be the ‘Liu Family Qi-Gazing Art’.”

“I'm afraid you might not have a choice then.”

“Why?”

“He and A-Li are so close. Once A-Li is well, whatever he wants to learn, won't A-Li teach him?”

“It's useless. Every family has its own teaching methods. Even if these legacies are written clearly in books, without a master to guide them, one can at most only grasp the superficialities; it's impossible to truly learn them.”

At this point, Liu Yumei suddenly had the urge to tease her granddaughter, also feeling happy that her granddaughter had agreed to attend someone else's birthday.

She walked into the house and took out a book with 'Liu Family Qi-Gazing Art' written on it.

The girl sat on the stool, her feet on the threshold, but this time, she wasn't just staring straight ahead. Her gaze slowly moved, looking around.

“A-Li, do you think I should let Little Yuan see this book later?”

Last time, when she knew the boy needed money, her granddaughter had taken all the gold bars and cash from the house to him.

This boy loved books. Seeing this book, wouldn't her granddaughter eagerly snatch it to give to him?

However, her granddaughter's reaction left Liu Yumei puzzled. A-Li actually ignored the book in her hand.

Didn't she see it clearly?

Liu Yumei moved the book closer to A-Li.

“Whack!”

A-Li slapped the book to the ground.

Liu Yumei, puzzled, bent down to pick up the book and blew off the dust. She wasn't particularly happy; instead, she felt a bit nervous:

Oh, why isn't my granddaughter favoring him anymore?

“Little Yuan, are we going to Shinan Town or Shigang Town?”

Tan Wenbin patted Run Sheng's back and said, “Of course, we're going to Shigang Town. How many shops are there in Shinan Town anyway?”

“Brother Run Sheng, let's go to Shigang Town then.”

“Alright!”

Tan Wenbin rested his hands on the edge of the trishaw, faced the wind, brushed his fringe, and said, “Don't worry, I know Shigang Town well. I'll definitely help you pick out good gifts.”

Upon reaching Shigang Town, they passed the gates of Shigang Middle School. Shinan had a junior high but no senior high, so Yingzi, Panzi, and Leizi also attended school here.

Tan Wenbin pointed at the school gate and said, “Little Yuan, look, this will be your alma mater.”

It was the first time Li Zhuiyuan had heard 'future' added before 'alma mater'.

On the first teaching building of the school, two banners hung: “Today I am proud of my alma mater, tomorrow my alma mater will be proud of me.”

“Brother Bin Bin, are you going back to school in a couple of days?”

“Don't worry, I won't be able to go. Everyone has already collectively written to the Education Bureau to report the summer tutoring classes.”

“You organized it?”

“Heh heh.” Tan Wenbin tilted his head, finding the angle of the wind. “That would be me!”

Run Sheng said, “Little Yuan, are you going to study here later?”

“Yeah, you just found out?” Tan Wenbin replied quickly.

Run Sheng: “Alright then, I'll pick you up and drop you off at school every morning and evening.”

Tan Wenbin: “The school has dorms.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “I won't live in a dorm.”

Great-Grandpa's house wasn't very far from here, and with Brother Run Sheng picking him up and dropping him off, it would be convenient. At home, there was good food and drinks, a spacious big bed, and A-Li.

“Then what about morning and evening self-study? Morning self-study starts at six, and evening self-study doesn't end until ten. Think about how early you'd have to wake up and how late you'd get home.”

“Then I just won't attend morning and evening self-study.”

Tan Wenbin: “…”

Tan Wenbin suddenly felt that Little Yuan made a lot of sense.

If he dared to say the same thing to Tan Yunlong, his dad would definitely be unbuckling his belt next.

“Little Yuan, then you just don't have to come to school when you're in a bad mood or the weather's bad.”

“Okay!”

In Li Zhuiyuan's opinion, how could attending school interfere with catching Death Entities?

“Damn it, I'm so jealous of you! Why can't I be like that?!”

Run Sheng: “You don't have the brain for it.”

“Shut up, focus on riding your bike.” Tan Wenbin began to ponder. “Little Yuan, do you have any secret study tips you can teach me?”

Run Sheng: “Does your dad know you've been staying here for days and this is the first time you've mentioned studying?”

“Oh, just shut up!”

“Brother Bin Bin, I don't know how to help you with studying.”

“Like, your study methods?”

“Studying… needs methods?”

Tan Wenbin spread his hands, his expression twisted, and asked in a strange, rising tone:

“Studying… doesn't need methods?”

“Catching Death Entities, on the other hand, requires methods.”

“Ah…” Tan Wenbin decided to accept reality. “Can you help me with my homework problems then?”

“I can write out the steps for you, that would be quicker. And I can also create some problems for you to solve.”

Tan Wenbin silently pulled out a cigarette, didn't light it, but just sniffed it under his nose, then nodded. “Thank you, Little Yuan. I'll work hard to get into the same university as you.”

Run Sheng: “Then I'll drive you to university in my trishaw.”

“Never mind university for now. You drove past it; the department store is behind us. Turn back quickly.”

The trishaw stopped in front of the department store. Run Sheng took out the chain and locked it.

Then, the three walked into the building, which was crowded.

Led by Tan Wenbin, all three quickly bought their gifts.

Li Zhuiyuan bought a music box. He bought a glass ornament for A-Li, and also a silk scarf for her.

After shopping, Tan Wenbin led the two to a nearby alley with several street vendors selling fried skewers.

“Boss, chicken skewers…”

Before he could finish ordering, Tan Wenbin spotted a skinny classmate surrounded by four boys deep in the alley.

“Don't think you can act all high and mighty just because Tan Wenbin is protecting you. Let me tell you, you're dreaming.”

“Others might be afraid of Tan Wenbin, but I'm not. Even if his dad shows up, I won't care!”

Under a barrage of punches and kicks, the thin classmate quickly crouched in the corner, covering his head with his hands.

Tan Wenbin looked at Li Zhuiyuan: “Little Yuan…”

“Your classmate?”

“Yeah, my deskmate. He's a good person, just a bit soft-spoken, so he gets bullied easily. Among these four guys, two are from other classes, and two are from outside schools; they often demand money from him.”

“Oh.”

“Little Yuan, Run Sheng, pretend you don't know me.”

Having said that, Tan Wenbin quickly rushed forward, disregarding the four people, and delivered a flying kick to one of them. “Screw you!”

That kick truly showed a familial flair.

It made Li Zhuiyuan wonder if Uncle Tan usually beat Bin Bin or taught him martial arts.

After knocking one down, the other three immediately moved in to fight, and Tan Wenbin was instantly caught in a group beating.

Mainly, he ran too fast and fought too fast, so fast that Li Zhuiyuan didn't even have time to say anything.

“Brother Run Sheng, help Bin Bin fight.”

“Alright!”

Li Zhuiyuan turned to the fried skewer vendor and said, “Boss, twenty chicken skewers, three portions of fried tofu, all with sweet and chili sauce.”

Run Sheng, having received Li Zhuiyuan's instruction, walked forward step by step, clenching his fists and cracking his neck, producing a series of popping sounds from his joints.

In his mind, scenes from gangster movies flashed.

But precisely because he was slowly contemplating the plot, Bin Bin took several more punches.

However, the situation changed immediately after he joined.

He first reached out and grabbed one person, lifted them up, and then repeatedly slapped their face, causing blood and teeth to fly.

He knew better than to kill someone, so he regretfully let go, and the person collapsed limply to the ground.

This incredibly brutal scene stunned the other three; for a moment, they didn't know whether to engage or not.

Run Sheng proactively dispelled their doubts, charging forward with his arms spread, like a bull, fiercely flipping two of them to the ground.

Then he kicked one to the left and one to the right; both were truly sent flying, each slamming against the wall and falling down.

Seeing this, the last one immediately turned to run, but he was too slow. Run Sheng accelerated and caught up to him, grabbed his neck, lifted him in an inverted sweep, twirled him in the air, and then slammed him onto the ground.

“My turn!”

Tan Wenbin yelled, rushed over, and delivered a barrage of punches and kicks to the guy.

Seeing that it was about time, he then ran over to the first three and delivered some more blows.

Run Sheng merely watched as Tan Wenbin kept shouting, “A-da, a-duo!”

Because Run Sheng knew that if he intervened again, he wouldn't be able to hold back.

“Hmph…”

Tan Wenbin finally finished fighting. All four guys lay on the ground, groaning.

“Damn, that felt good, so good!”

Tan Wenbin raised his arms. Although he hadn't seen a Death Entity, this satisfying beating felt worth it.

After