Chapter 84

Zhuangzhuang's kung fu had truly paid off. When he was kicked and flew to the ground, he managed to brace himself with his knees and elbows, maintaining his balance so perfectly that not a drop spilled from the oil dish in his hand.

He turned his head, looked behind him, and exclaimed, "No, Dad, our ancestral graves are really on fire."

Although Tan Wenbin's status as part of a police family had previously led Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng to treat him like a memorial tablet at the police station entrance, the "family" here referred to a legacy of honor and responsibility, not actual "family power." Earlier, Tan Wenbin hadn't believed his father had arrived because he understood the promotion process within the system. But his father had indeed come, and he was wearing a police uniform.

On the way to the school, Tan Yunlong and several new colleagues discussed children's education. Tan Yunlong shared his "parenting experience," explaining that it was normal for children to be playful and immature when young, and they would mature as they grew older. This was primarily to comfort his colleagues, incidentally laying the groundwork for a bit of subtle bragging. As they entered the school gate, he casually pointed to it and remarked how coincidental it was that his son had been admitted to this very school this year. Just moments ago, as they walked up the steps into the restaurant, his colleagues were still asking him for specific parenting advice. Who knew that as soon as he reached his son's back, he would hear this performance?

The sarcastic remarks about himself and his family's ancestral graves, combined with the vivid local dialect, would surely make his new colleagues forget where they were from. This wasn't the first time; it seemed every time he was about to feel proud of his children and enjoy that emotional fulfillment all normal parents craved, his son would precisely undermine him. You couldn't say he hadn't grown up, as he had completely changed over the past year, but if you said he was truly sensible, he never seemed to be serious.

"Dad, are you here in Jinling for a training event or an award ceremony?"

Tan Yunlong ignored his son, took out his ID, and went through the procedure. "We need your cooperation for a few more questions. You all eat first, we're not in a hurry."

Runsheng asked, "Uncle Tan, are you joining us?"

"No need, we've already eaten."

Li Zhuiyuan put down his chopsticks, and the others followed suit. Runsheng and Yin Meng had already undergone two rounds of questioning recently, and he and Tan Wenbin had also been questioned as students who were on campus at the time.

"Then let's begin." Tan Yunlong walked over to Li Zhuiyuan and motioned for his colleagues to proceed with the others. "Let's be quick so we don't delay their business."

"Dad!"

Tan Wenbin called out "Dad" again. Tan Yunlong heard him, pointed to another accompanying police officer, as if "entrusting his son." Tan Wenbin slumped his shoulders and could only go to the counter to sit down for questioning.

Li Zhuiyuan led Tan Yunlong to the basement. Sun Hongxia's room had been sealed, but Tan Yunlong personally tore open the seal and entered with Li Zhuiyuan.

"Congratulations, Uncle Tan."

Tan Yunlong was clearly in a work state, investigating a case, not attending a conference or receiving an award as a representative. If he were just dispatched to assist with work, they wouldn't have brought a police officer from Nantong's rural towns.

"Haha, Xiaoyuan, I'm still a bit dazed myself, how did I get transferred here so suddenly?"

"Has your work relationship not changed?"

"I've arrived, but the paperwork is still being processed." Tan Yunlong pulled out a cigarette but didn't light it, just held it in his hand, his gaze sweeping the room. "Before entering the school, I was planning to visit you and Binbin after the investigation process was complete. I didn't expect to run into you here. I thought Runsheng's name looked familiar when I was reviewing the case files, and it really is Runsheng Hou."

The old dialect used many local terms, and the pronunciation was not standard Mandarin. People also liked to simplify names and add particles, so old friends who had known each other for decades might not recognize each other's written names at first glance.

"Was Uncle Tan specially transferred to investigate this disappearance case?"

Tan Yunlong paused, twirling the unlit cigarette in his hand, and asked, "Xiaoyuan, does Binbin still smoke?"

"He does."

"Did he smoke this time too?"

"Yes, we still smell his cigarette smoke."

Tan Yunlong stretched. "I guess it's going to be hard to find any useful clues. I just came back from that temple on General Mountain; it was burned clean."

"I think the focus of the investigation should be on the real culprit behind the case seven years ago."

"Was it him?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. "Whether it was him or not, we can't let the true culprit remain at large."

"Indeed."

"Uncle Tan, Binbin got those case files earlier, could it be related to that matter?"

Tan Yunlong stated with certainty, "No."

"Then it's related to something from your past."

"I want to know why too." Tan Yunlong walked out of Sun Hongxia's room and lit his cigarette. "The questioning is over, Xiaoyuan, let's go up."

Li Zhuiyuan followed him upstairs. The others' questioning had also finished by then. Everyone had strong psychological resilience and naturally wouldn't reveal any flaws during such questioning. They concealed some things to avoid disturbing their lives, but essentially, this case truly had nothing to do with them. No living person died by their hands; that night, they only dealt with one... no, they brought peace to one dead spirit who had given up resistance.

"Xiaoyuan, after I finish my current tasks, shall we get some supper tonight?"

"Sounds good."

"Which dorm building is Ran Qiupping's supervisor?"

"Our building."

"Then take us there again, let's take a look."

"Uncle Tan, I have something to do. Let Binbin go with you. We'll see each other at supper."

"Okay, fine."

Li Zhuiyuan really did have something to do. Ali had personally made him a new canvas bag, and he needed to pick it up. With the new canvas in hand, it was like having a new book cover. Only then would he dare to open the "old book cover" of that evil book and try to look at its contents.

As he walked out, Li Zhuiyuan greeted Tan Wenbin, "Binbin bro, supper tonight."

Tan Wenbin raised his hand in an "understood" gesture. "Got it, Old Sichuan."

After Li Zhuiyuan left, Tan Wenbin became their guide.

"Dad, are you really being transferred here?"

"Yes."

"That doesn't follow the rules, Dad. Secretly tell me, have you fallen from grace?"

"What?"

"Did you pull some strings behind the scenes? Bribe someone?"

"Are you so worried about your old man?"

"Of course! I missed out on your bonus points for the college entrance exam, so you definitely mustn't affect my political background check later on."

"Heh."

"Dad, you have to be a good police officer."

"You don't need to teach me that."

"So, which area are you in charge of?"

"Currently, I'm here."

"No, I was in your jurisdiction before the college entrance exam, and I'm still in your jurisdiction after it. Didn't I take the exam for nothing?"

"Then drop out, go back to high school for another year, and try for those two universities in the capital."

"Oh, Officer Tan, you're quite ambitious, hoping to transfer to the capital?"

Tan Wenbin nudged his father with his elbow. Tan Yunlong glared back at him. Then, both of them laughed.

Just as they reached the dorm entrance, they saw Lu Yi coming out with a bag. Tan Wenbin proactively greeted him, "Hey, going out so late?"

"Yeah, just nearby. The kids have piano and dance classes during the day, so evenings are the only free time."

"Then be careful."

"Don't worry. You're..." Lu Yi looked at Tan Yunlong beside Tan Wenbin.

"Oh, the Sir asked me to guide him."

"Heh heh, okay." Lu Yi nodded, waved, and left.

Inside the dorm building, Tan Wenbin pointed, "Dad, this is Ran Qiupping's office."

"Next time, don't say her name so smoothly."

"Got it."

The window was closed. When they opened the door, they found someone standing inside. Tan Wenbin's gaze narrowed slightly. He recognized this person—it was Yu Shu, who had once told stories to them in Shinan Town and later came to Grandpa Li's house to tell another story. Zhuiyuan Ge was very wary of his identity and didn't want too much involvement with him.

Tan Yunlong also recognized him and greeted him proactively, "Mr. Yu, hello."

"Officer Tan, hello." Yu Shu simply greeted them, then looked at Tan Wenbin. "Young man, we meet again."

"Ah, um, hello, storyteller."

"Are you a student here?"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Yu, are you here to perform at our school?"

"Heh heh, do you live here?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then let's go see your dorm, I'm thirsty."

"Sure, no problem."

Yu Shu looked at Tan Yunlong. "What a coincidence, I didn't know your son also studies here."

Tan Yunlong was momentarily stunned. He suddenly had a clue about his sudden personnel transfer.

Tan Wenbin led the way, with Yu Shu and Tan Yunlong following behind. The other police officers remained to conduct a routine re-inspection of Ran Qiupping's office.

"Officer Tan, do you believe in fate?"

Tan Yunlong didn't answer but instead gravely took off his police cap and put it back on.

"Apologies, that was abrupt of me. What I meant was, your son seems to bring you good fortune."

"That brat, I'm lucky he hasn't driven me to an early grave."

Tan Wenbin, walking ahead, raised his arms in displeasure. "My mom said that when I was born, auspicious signs descended from the heavens, and there were red clouds in the evening sky!"

"That was the cotton mill next to the hospital on fire."

Tan Yunlong did believe that someone could bring him good fortune, but it wasn't his own son; it was someone else.

Upon reaching the third floor, Tan Wenbin naturally opened Lu Yi's dorm room door.

"Come in, everyone, have a seat, don't be shy."

Tan Wenbin picked up loose cigarettes from the small table, offering them to his father and Yu Shu. Then he picked up the red sausage, broke it into several pieces, and offered those to them as well. In the entire dorm area, besides his and Xiaoyuan's rooms, this was the one he knew best. He himself was like the local guardian deity of this room.

Yu Shu asked, "Why is there only one bed, and the others are empty?"

"Oh, I had bad luck. When dorms were assigned, I was last and ended up sharing with a sophomore. Now, freshmen have started early, and the upperclassmen haven't returned yet."

Tan Yunlong instantly saw that this wasn't his son's dorm. The bedding and personal items could be explained as old ones brought from home, but the dust accumulated in the corners of the storage boxes and some other objects indicated this was definitely not a newly occupied dorm. But he said nothing. After all, Yu Shu wasn't a professional criminal investigator. Each profession has its specialization, and he wouldn't notice these details.

Biting into a piece of red sausage, Yu Shu nodded. "The taste is quite authentic."

"Of course! A buddy from Northeast China gave it to me."

Although the Red Sausage Ghost hadn't come to eat his red sausage for a while, Lu Yi still maintained this offering habit. It wouldn't go to waste anyway; he would eat whatever he offered during the day at night. His parents worked at a meat processing plant back home and would send him some periodically. In short, no matter what, he couldn't let the fellow countryman ghost go hungry. Who knew, maybe one day they'd miss the taste and come back for a visit.

"Officer Tan, shall we go?"

"Alright."

"Then Dad, Mr. Yu, you two go on. I'm going to do my laundry."

Only after his father and Yu Shu left the dorm did Tan Wenbin finally relax. He couldn't possibly take Yu Shu to his and Xiaoyuan's dorm. There was Xiaoyuan's elaborate access control system and the high heels he had set up.

Walking out of the dorm building, Yu Shu put the last bit of red sausage into his mouth. "Officer Tan, the higher-ups are taking this case very seriously. Do you have any leads?"

"I think the focus should still be on the case from seven years ago. I suspect the true culprit might still be at large."

Yu Shu nodded. He wasn't really concerned with the details of the case itself, merely echoing, "Then investigate in that direction. I'll be going now."

Tan Yunlong called his new colleagues to the next investigation point.

At this moment, Li Zhuiyuan had no idea that his "lair" had almost been exposed. Of course, even if he knew, there was nothing he could do. He had come to pick something up from Ali, but then Aunt Liu told him that Liu Yumei wanted to talk to him and asked him to wait in the study.

These days, every time he came over, after playing with Ali, Liu Yumei would call him to the study for a chat, and each time, she would make him wait there first. During their first conversation in the study, Li Zhuiyuan didn't really understand, because it involved "river walking" and "evil books." But after several subsequent conversations where she seemed to be fishing for information, if Li Zhuiyuan still didn't grasp her meaning, it would be an insult to the intelligence of the province's top two college entrance exam scorers and all the other "scholars" below them.

This book, "The Liu Family's Qi-Observing Manual," was always placed in the most prominent position, and during their conversations, Grandma Liu's gaze would practically bore into it. She wanted him to join her family's lineage as a disciple. This "Liu Family's Qi-Observing Manual" was the entry gift.

But even though he understood Grandma Liu's intentions, Li Zhuiyuan still had to play dumb and avoid the topic. In all fairness, he was willing to join the Liu family's lineage. In fact, he had already used the Liu family's identity several times. The only reason Liu Yumei hadn't heard from her home that someone in the Liu family had started "river walking" was because the people to whom he revealed his identity quickly died.

If he truly joined the lineage, wouldn't he have to call Ali "senior sister"? The young man even thought of a solution for this. Ali's surname was Qin, so she most likely inherited from the Qin family. Even if it wasn't the Qin family but the Liu family, it didn't matter. Anyway, he had already learned the secret techniques of both the Qin and Liu families. If Ali inherited from one, he would go to the other. He had to at least get someone of equal standing.

Willingness was one thing, but the necessary procedures couldn't be skipped. Principal Wu and others in high school had already set an example for him. Even if he had already decided to enter Haihe University, he couldn't forgo the negotiation of terms. In Li Zhuiyuan's eyes, a lineage was like a university. He wasn't a born member of the Qin or Liu families. So, it was a mutual selection.

"You think I'm worth what price? Then state your price." A children's version of "The Liu Family's Qi-Observing Manual" wasn't enough as an entry gift; it was a bit of a loss, because after entering, he would naturally have to hand over the advanced version of "The Liu Family's Qi-Observing Manual" out of respect and reason. That would be like paying to sell himself.

In truth, the young man wasn't greedy or worldly. It was because he wasn't alone now; he had Runsheng, Binbin, and Yin Meng behind him. He could forgo considering himself, but he had to secure positions and benefits for his companions. For example, he could ask Grandma Liu to call Uncle Qin back and give Runsheng and the others special training, teaching them martial arts. He himself wasn't very good at teaching people, especially starting from the basics. So, he had to at least secure a set of "basic textbooks" for them. These were all things to be discussed. If they weren't discussed beforehand, it would be hard to bring them up later. Moreover, at the negotiating table, whoever spoke first and revealed their hand would be at a disadvantage.

However, it seemed that continuing to have a staring contest with Grandma Liu wasn't working either. Although Grandma Liu was old, her eyesight was excellent. She had stared him down for so many days, stubbornly refusing to initiate the conversation, without even her eyes getting dry.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't know that every time he left without asking to borrow the book, Liu Yumei, who had lived a life of pampered ease, would curse furiously, even smashing a pair of imperial porcelain vases yesterday.

He couldn't drag it out any longer. He had to add some fuel to the fire. Just like getting early admission to a university required participating in an Olympiad and winning an award, he had to first demonstrate his value. Directly telling Grandma Liu that he had already learned the more advanced versions of the Qin and Liu family's secret arts would be the most foolish move. This was because prominent families placed great importance and strictness on the inheritance of their family knowledge. Exposing this would be admitting to secret learning. Grandma Liu probably wouldn't punish him, but he would effectively be forced into discipleship immediately.

At this moment, Aunt Liu entered carrying a fruit platter. She put down the platter, then proactively picked up "The Liu Family's Qi-Observing Manual."

"Your Grandma Liu forgot the time while strolling again, Xiaoyuan. If you're bored, you can find a book to read first. I remember when you were home, you loved reading the most."

Li Zhuiyuan felt a slight relief, knowing that Grandma Liu was also anxious, so he wasn't as rushed. "Aunt Liu, I have a book to read lately, so I don't have the energy for other books for now."

"Your Grandma Liu said you've been reading scriptures lately?"

"Yes."

"Aren't those books too early for you? How old are you, starting to cultivate yourself already?"

"Ah, it's not just those. Mengmeng's family also has some ancient books. She brought them when she came to Nantong, and I've been looking through some of her books lately too."

"Looking at her books?"

"Yes, they're quite interesting."

"Oh really? What's the name of the book?"

"The Yin Family's Twelve Methods."

A slight curl appeared on Aunt Liu's lips; she was dismissive. This disdain wasn't due to snobbery, as Aunt Liu was a person who could seamlessly switch between urban and rural identities. It primarily involved lineage, and she naturally had absolute confidence and pride in her own heritage. In her eyes, "The Yin Family's Twelve Methods" was completely beneath contempt.

Li Zhuiyuan deeply understood this. After reverse-engineering the complete version of "The Yin Family's Twelve Methods," he strongly suspected that this obviously high-end and grand legacy had been altered by generations of unworthy descendants, not just in content difficulty, but even in its name. It should have originally had a more imposing name; after all, it was the legacy of Yin Changsheng, the legendary Emperor of Fengdu. This was like a family's secret martial art being called "The Sixth Set of National Middle School Broadcast Gymnastics."

"So, Xiaoyuan, have you figured anything out?" Aunt Liu's words were merely polite.

Li Zhuiyuan sighed inwardly. The dignity of the Yin family now had to be maintained by an outsider like himself.

"Aunt Liu, I've just started to understand a little, for example, this..."

Li Zhuiyuan turned his palm upwards and closed his eyes. At first, Aunt Liu didn't notice anything, but in an instant, the study suddenly became quiet, with all outside wind and insect sounds completely blocked out.

The young man's face was solemn, his palm raised upwards, and he said in a deep voice with closed eyes: "Four ghosts carry the sedan."

Although the young man was still sitting in front of her, he sitting and she standing, in her vision, the young man's figure seemed to suddenly be lifted higher and higher. This was an amplification of his aura, as if the young man before her suddenly became incredibly tall and imposing. Aunt Liu lightly pursed her lips. She believed that if she were to engage in spirit-walking at this moment, she would definitely see a different scene.

"Four Ghosts Carry the Sedan" was the simplest of the twelve methods Yin Fuhai taught him. Yin Fuhai said this technique was for bringing peace to evil spirits. If the host gave a fair price or was discerning, the Yin family would use this move during a "sitting vegetarian" ritual to comfortably send the deceased away.

After Li Zhuiyuan completed the reverse-engineering, he felt that it was fortunate the Yin family had declined and become weak, otherwise this move could only be used as an "incantation for rebirth." In reality, this was the most illustrative move of Yin Changsheng's former glory within the entire set of family secret arts, and also the most demonstrative of the Emperor of Fengdu's imposing aura.

"Four Ghosts Carry the Sedan: Four divine ghosts, precede me." This was clearly a technique for summoning and commanding ghosts. It was fortunate that the Yin family's descendants were unskilled and disgraced their ancestors, otherwise, if a family paid a high price for someone to "sit vegetarian," the deceased's soul would be taken away—how truly filial!

Li Zhuiyuan turned his palm downwards and slowly lowered it. "Lower the sedan."

"Hum..." A colorless vibration echoed in the study, its resonance lingering.

Aunt Liu's eyes widened. Was this really some "Yin Family's Twelve Methods"? Furthermore, beginners learn step by step, advanced practitioners control their power freely, profound practitioners integrate everything, but the young man before her had already grasped the very essence.

What Aunt Liu didn't know was that since all the books in the grand-grandpa's basement were high-level, Li Zhuiyuan's threshold for understanding a book from the very beginning was to grasp its profound essence. The young man didn't not want to progress step by step; he simply had no basic textbooks. This also led to a long period where he could execute a full set of difficult dives from a high platform, making very little splash... but he still hadn't learned to swim.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes, his solemn spiritual appearance gone, replaced by the excitement and pride of a young man showing off. "Aunt Liu, I think Mengmeng's family books are really fun."

Aunt Liu was momentarily speechless. Having a taste, she had long known the young man was intelligent, but she suddenly realized she had thought of him as far too simple.

"Mengmeng said that to truly understand and master her family's techniques, one has to go back to Fengdu, burn incense and offer sacrifices in the Ghost City, and seek the protection and recognition of the Emperor of Fengdu. Anyway, next is freshman military training, which I don't have to attend, so I can take some time to go back to Fengdu and look around. The scenery there is beautiful and it's a lot of fun."

Aunt Liu nodded in agreement at first, then her expression changed. No, that girl Yin Meng wants you to pledge allegiance to the Yin family? Secretly learning techniques from another family, if that family was weak or didn't pursue it, wasn't a big deal. But to actually go to Fengdu Ghost City to set up altars and make sacrifices, the nature of it would be completely different. It would be equivalent to being accepted by another university.

"Xiaoyuan, please sit for a while longer. Auntie will go see why your Grandma Liu isn't back yet."

"Okay."

"Oh, right, don't go out running around for a while, because we're moving. Your Grandma Liu has some old friends at the university, and they've invited her to live on campus. Ali has a lot of things, so you'll need to help collect and pack them."

"Okay, I understand."

Aunt Liu left the study. Once the door closed, even with Li Zhuiyuan's keen hearing, he suddenly couldn't hear her footsteps anymore.

Li Zhuiyuan opened the study door, went upstairs, and entered Ali's room. The girl was holding a planer, shaving a memorial tablet. The wooden curls spiraled evenly, each piece light and graceful. Li Zhuiyuan squatted down, holding a box. She continued to shave, and he slowly collected. They were like they had returned to the past, at their grand-grandpa's house, making crafts together.

While working, Li Zhuiyuan recounted everything that had just happened, including Grandma Liu's thoughts and his own calculations. He didn't want to hide anything from her, even if such matters were usually unspoken. He didn't want any concealment, after all, she was a girl willing to open her heart and let him see inside.

After gathering the wooden curls, Li Zhuiyuan closed the box and lay down beside the girl. The floor was carpeted and very soft.

"Ali, do you think my constant calculations are meaningless?"

The girl stopped working. She had actually just been preparing materials. Then, the girl's left hand reached under the boy's neck, and her right hand gently patted his head. Li Zhuiyuan instinctively reacted, thinking Ali was going to do the same movement he and his grand-grandpa used to do. Li Zhuiyuan had tried to change that movement several times but failed, because it was the first one that entered the girl's vision. Over the past year, the girl had many times actively leaned against his chest, hoping he would pat her head gently and say those words, just like his grand-grandpa used to do to him, even if those words felt a little shameful to say.

But soon, Li Zhuiyuan realized something was wrong. The roles had been reversed this time. He was being hugged by Ali, and Ali was gently patting his head. Ali didn't speak, but her bright eyes and dimples seemed to silently utter the line:

"Xiaoyuan, whatever you want, I'll buy it for you. I have money, plenty of money."

Li Zhuiyuan was completely stunned. For a moment, he felt utterly disoriented, and his body began to tremble slightly. A strong sense of rejection rose from within him. He didn't know how to face this situation, how to handle this emotion. The girl tried to hold him tighter, but the young man pushed her away. He stood up, retreating steadily until he reached the corner of the wall. Tears welled from the corners of his eyes, even though he didn't know why he was crying at that moment. He just felt like everything in his vision was spinning, he felt very uneasy, he wanted to escape. Almost instinctively, he clenched his left hand into a fist, brought it to his mouth, opened his teeth, and bit down. A sharp pain shot through him, but he immediately cried out again and moved his hand away. He was afraid of biting his hand until it bled in front of the girl.

The girl stood up, seemingly wanting to approach, but the boy's reaction was even more intense. The girl could only stay where she was.

"Huu... huu... huu..." Li Zhuiyuan clutched his head, his gaze directed downwards. At this moment, he was like a student entering an examination hall, picking up a pen, but suddenly forgetting all the knowledge points. He was anxious, bewildered, and helpless. In his ears, he could hear the "swish-swish" sound of other students' pens answering questions. Everyone seemed to know everything, and the questions were simple, but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't write a single word. Even if answers were all around him, they were too far away for him to see or copy.

At this moment, Li Lan's voice echoed in his mind:

"Li Zhuiyuan, you and I are both monsters in human skin."

"Thump!" The back of the young man's head hit the wall hard, but he quieted down as a result. He had been like someone drowning, but now, he had finally crawled ashore, drenched and exhausted, yet with an indescribable joy. He had been trying hard to keep his human skin from shedding, but when the human skin actually showed signs of growing back, he suddenly felt disoriented. It turned out that he, like Zhuangzhuang earlier, was like Lord Ye who loved dragons—only in theory, not in reality.

"Hehehe... hehehe... hahahaha..." The young man started to laugh.

Ali walked over, crouched down, and looked at him. Li Zhuiyuan also looked at her. Their gazes met, and they both saw themselves in each other's eyes.

"Ali, tell me, after I become a disciple, can my memorial tablet be placed on the altar in your dreams?"

"That's not 'The Yin Family's Twelve Methods' at all."

"It's not?"

"When that girl Yin Meng first arrived in Nantong, I noticed her. Her mind is very dull; I'm afraid she can't even perform spirit-walking, let alone teach that brat any methods."

"He said he read the book the girl brought..."

"There is no such complete set of books," Liu Yumei said assertively. "If there truly was such a complete set of books, the Yin family would have died out long ago; they wouldn't have lasted until now. Because if that set of books weren't modified, their own descendants wouldn't be able to learn it!"

Liu Yumei paused, then added, "Although our Qin and Liu families are sparsely populated, at least we still have you and Ali, and those... Even Ali, if she weren't sick, her talent would be extremely high. Because only those with truly high bloodline talent are more prone to this kind of illness. Ordinary descendants wouldn't even catch the eye of those resentful spirits; they wouldn't be interested in clinging to them for revenge. The Qin and Liu families were broken, not declined. So, A Ting, you haven't seen what those truly fallen families and lineages in the martial arts world look like. Their descendants, oh, they line up to compete with pigs over who's dumber!"

"But if there's no such book, how did Xiaoyuan learn it?"

"Only two possibilities. One, there really are good things in those books in Li Sanjiang's basement, even in our eyes, they still are."

"But can traditions really be learned just by reading books and written records?" Aunt Liu couldn't help but recall the young man sitting in the rattan chair on the terrace, reading. He flipped the pages as if he were looking at comic books.

"Right? That possibility is hard to imagine, isn't it? The key to each family's tradition lies in the people. If it could really be learned just by relying on books and written records, wouldn't all family secret arts have become common knowledge long ago? How could there be such a clever person in this world?"

"But you just said..."

"That's because the second possibility is even harder to imagine. That girl, Yin Meng, must be carrying something for pigs to read. And then that kid, he reverse-engineered something meant for pigs into something meant for humans, for the Emperor of Fengdu—"

Liu Yumei stopped mid-sentence. She instinctively raised her hand and murmured, "Four ghosts carry the sedan." Although there was no wind or waves, Aunt Liu had already conveyed the feeling of that moment to her.

"There are only these two possibilities, no third. Because for the past year, they've been living with Xiaoyuan. No one could have emerged under their noses and secretly taken him as a disciple and taught him."

"Xiaoyuan, reverse-engineered..." Aunt Liu's eyes were full of shock. "If he really has that ability, then any family's secret manual, as long as it's given to him, he could just learn it?"

"If I hadn't been afraid of attracting karmic backlash at Li Sanjiang's house back then, I really should have gone to see what kind of books that kid was reading every day."

Aunt Liu reminded her, "Ali should know, but unfortunately, Ali can't speak yet."

"Heh," Liu Yumei sighed. "Even if Ali could speak, do you think she would tell you?"

"Why are you getting angry with me? Ali is your granddaughter whom you raised yourself."

Liu Yumei turned her head away, somewhat helplessly. She didn't want to admit it, but the truth was before her: She, Liu Yumei, who had lived a life of wealth, honor, and refined elegance, had a granddaughter she personally raised whose elbow wasn't just bending outwards... it had never been with the family!

Seeing that the old lady was truly upset, Aunt Liu could only go along. "We can only blame Xiaoyuan for bewitching our Ali with who knows what."

Liu Yumei snorted, "Hmph, can't it be that our Ali has excellent taste and sharp discernment?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes, you're absolutely right!"

Liu Yumei clasped her arms, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Our Ali takes after me; her taste in men must be first-class."

"Of course, of course she takes after you, after all, she's your own granddaughter."

"Heh heh heh." Liu Yumei laughed.

Aunt Liu deliberately teased, "Why, judging by your words, have you changed your mind and plan to recruit this 'crossing-the-river dragon'?"

"The children are still young. Why say such things? It's so boring."

"You're right, you're always right."

"Alright, A Ting, we misjudged him. Even if he learned it just by reading books by himself, he's already an extraordinary genius. Think about it, back then, if I had just thrown books at your faces and told you and Ali to read them yourselves, you'd probably still be digging for eels in some ditch somewhere."

"Of course, Ali and I are so dull-witted. How could we compare to the grandson-in-law you've chosen? Oh, Grandma, you really are something. It's not even a sure thing yet, and you're already looking down on us and dismissing us."

"Don't talk nonsense. Say another word, and I'll slap your mouth."

"I'm sorry," Aunt Liu gently slapped herself twice and then said, "Then you better hurry, otherwise he'll go and pledge allegiance to Fengdu."

"Silly girl, can't you tell? He's not really going to pledge allegiance to Fengdu. He's prodding this old woman to speak up so he can put on airs and make demands."

Li Zhuiyuan came downstairs and saw Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu standing in the yard.

"Grandma Liu."

"Yes, we're moving in three days. According to custom, you should come to our house for a meal."

"Okay, according to custom, should I bring any gifts?"

"You're a child, just come empty-handed. According to tradition, I should give you an entry gift."

"What is it?"

"Whatever you want, Grandma will give you."