Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 436 Nezha, you really look like your father's brother

"What's the extent of the disaster? Have the statistics been compiled yet?"

Li Jing walked across the broken ground with a grim expression, and the generals following behind him also looked somber.

At this moment, his wife also heard about this, and led a team of female soldiers she had trained, and called on the people and doctors in the city to go out of the city to provide relief.

Over the years, Li Jing and his wife guarded Chentang Pass, slaying demons and suppressing ferocious beasts, ensuring favorable weather and a peaceful and prosperous life for the people, making outstanding contributions.

At this moment, their voices were met with overwhelming support; no, they were met with a thousand, ten thousand, and a hundred thousand responses. Countless people from the city poured out to support the disaster-stricken areas.

At this moment, under the leadership of Li Jing and his wife, the soldiers and civilians of Chentang Pass demonstrated an unprecedented level of unity.

"This natural disaster affected seven towns and forty-two villages. The extent of the damage varied, and the number of casualties... is still being tallied," He Yunhu said with a somber expression.

Although the numbers are not yet available, based on what they have seen, it is easy to guess that the number of casualties must be high.

Li Jing clenched his fist tightly, then loosened it, then clenched it again, and finally slowly let it go.

He said, "Send out the order to open the granaries outside the city and distribute grain. Tell all the medical clinics to treat the injured at all costs and to give proper burials to those who have unfortunately died. Don't worry about the money; the government will take care of it."

Over the years, he has eliminated many demonic birds and ferocious beasts, and their flesh, skin, bones, feathers, scales, and armor have all become priceless treasures.

Apart from those sent to the royal palace, the rest were bought up at high prices by nobles, which is why Chentang Pass became the richest pass in the Shang Dynasty over the years.

"Yes!" He Yunhu clasped his hands in greeting.

Li Jing suddenly noticed something and saw an old man with white hair sitting there like a wooden sculpture, his expression indifferent and his eyes lifeless, gently patting a young child in his arms to sleep.

The child's eyes were closed, his face was bloodless, and he was no longer breathing. His expression was distorted, showing a hint of pain.

"Father-in-law, I...I..."

Li Jing approached the old man and raised his hand to ask him to stop, but upon looking at the old man, his hand finally stopped.

He wanted to say something, but it felt like something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

The old man turned his head and gave Li Jing a blank look, then continued to gently pat the child.

Li Jing's hand, suspended in mid-air, slowly clenched into a fist.

He Yunhu felt a pang of pity and stepped forward, saying, "Father-in-law, the child is already..."

But looking at the old man's appearance, he couldn't bear to tell him the truth.

"Little Bao, Grandpa will never leave you behind again next time he goes out, never again..." the old man murmured softly.

Li Jing slowly stood up and looked at the dilapidated village.

A breeze blew in from afar, bringing a touch of coolness to the sweltering summer night.

"Yunhu!" Li Jing's voice was hoarse. "Tell me, what do our lives really mean?"

He Yunhu gave a bitter smile: "Maybe the gods see us the way I see ants on the ground when I'm bored!"

Li Jing looked up at the night sky and said, "Is there anything I can do for everyone?"

He Yunhu sensed the hidden meaning and was startled. He quickly grabbed Li Jing and said, "Sir, don't do anything foolish. You still have your wife and son at home."

Our lives as mortals have always been as worthless as the grass on the ground. Even the most powerful and wealthy, whose lives are considered valuable, are no different from us in the presence of gods and demons.

At this moment, his mood was no less relaxed than Li Jing's.

Of course, no matter how angry they are, as mortals whose lives are as insignificant as grass, they cannot express their anger to the heavens.

But they can't do it; this general can.

Li Jing turned to him and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, I won't be so impulsive. Besides, I am the general of Chentang Pass, and I can't act recklessly and implicate everyone."

He then quickly joined the rescue efforts.

In the distance, Yu Ding stood atop a mountain.

A gentle breeze swept by, and a Taoist priest appeared beside him.

"Senior brother, what do you think of this matter?" Yu Ding asked softly.

Taiyi Zhenren said, "Birth, old age, sickness and death are inevitable for everyone except immortals. These mortals are destined to experience this, and if we cannot escape our own calamities, how much more so can ordinary people?"
Even though they are dead, their souls go to the underworld, where they can be reincarnated and have the chance to be born again.

Yu Ding said softly, "Are they still themselves after reincarnation? What about those whose souls were scattered?"

This is the difference between how mortals and immortals view problems.

Mortals are devastated by their loss, but in the eyes of immortals, it is merely the death of the body, and the soul still has the chance to be reincarnated.

Taiyi pondered without speaking.

"Actually, the Heavenly Court is quite a mess these days."

Yu Ding said in a deep voice, "While some casualties and sacrifices are unavoidable, the aftermath and the work of comforting others can be done better."

Taiyi glanced at the displeased Yuding: "What, two hundred years ago your disciple caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace and rectified the Heavenly Court, and now it's your turn, Yuding?"

Yu Ding's eyes cleared instantly, and he coughed dryly, saying, "That's not true, Senior Brother. You can't joke like that."

Taiyi chuckled and looked up at the night sky, calmly saying, "The problems in the Heavenly Court have been long-standing, and the Heavenly Emperor's inaction has led to so many and serious problems that they cannot be solved by one or two people alone."

Yu Ding said quietly, "Just because it's difficult, just because it's serious, does that mean we shouldn't correct our mistakes?"

Taiyi tilted his head and teased, "Go ahead and change it?"

Yu Ding sighed: "I don't have time!"

Taiyi laughed and said, "I think Li Jing is almost ready now. Why don't you go and add fuel to the fire and encourage him?"

Yu Ding felt a little guilty after being told this, and hurriedly clarified, "Hasn't Master Ran Deng already taken Li Jing as his disciple? Besides, he's Nezha's father. If something happens to him, your disciple won't have an easy time either."

Taiyi shrugged and said, "I was just joking. Hey, look how anxious you are."

"Taiyi, you son of a bitch..." Yu Ding silently cursed in his heart.

By this time, Nezha had also arrived outside the city.

Looking at the collapsed, smoking houses, the weeping women and children, some orphans about his age, and the corpses... he was stunned by what he saw.

Immediately afterwards, a fire ignited in his heart, and his chest burned like a furnace.

He hurriedly went to find Li Jing and Yin Guangling. After seeing the two directing the rescue work, he paused for a moment before quickly joining in as well.

Although he was only seven years old, he possessed unparalleled superhuman strength, and his efficiency far surpassed that of adults.

"Brother Jing, look!"

Li Jing, who was giving orders, suddenly heard his wife's voice. He looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a not-so-imposing figure digging out wounded soldiers from the rubble.

"Nezha?!" Li Jing was stunned for a moment, and a look of relief slowly appeared in his eyes.

"As expected of my son, Li Jing!" Li Jing strode forward: "Everyone, hurry up and find the wounded, otherwise if we delay any longer, the wounded will not be able to hold on."

"See that? My apprentice!"

From afar, Taiyi grabbed Yuding's arm and shook it excitedly, saying, "Isn't this better than your disciple who only knows how to dismantle things?"

Ah yes, yes, yes... Yu Ding was shaken so badly his eyes rolled back, and his feet glowed, with a rich life force surging from the ground towards the wounded in the ruins.

The rescue and relief work lasted for seven days.

It would be difficult for anyone to live this long, but what amazed people was that many of the wounded survived without food or water, prompting many to call it a miracle.

"My lord, 3,152 people died and nearly 10,000 were injured in this natural disaster. This is the roster, please take a look." He Yunhu presented a cloth scroll.

Li Jing opened his eyes heavily and scanned them one by one.

He looked at this list for three days and three nights.

"Zha'er, come with your father for a moment," Li Jing said after dinner that evening.

Nezha was a little confused, but he quickly followed. The father and son, who didn't know how to get along before, instantly became closer during this disaster relief effort.

Li Jing led Nezha to his study. After twisting a mechanism on the bookshelf, the bookshelf slowly moved open, revealing an entrance.

"Father, your study actually has... a secret room?" Nezha asked in astonishment.

"follow me!"

Li Jing called Nezha into the secret room, where they found an offering table and countless memorial tablets.

"The memorial tablet of my late father, Li Erniu!"

"The memorial tablet of my late mother, Li Yangshi, Xiaoying!"

"Brother..."

As Nezha looked at the names on the memorial tablets, the excitement of discovering the secret room gradually faded from his face, and he became somewhat at a loss.

"Father, Mother, your child has brought Nezha to visit you today. This is my third child."

Li Jing lit three incense sticks and said, "I'm sorry, this is the first time I've brought your grandson to visit you."

Nezha was the first person he led into this place.

He inserted the incense stick into the incense burner, kowtowed, stood up and stood to the side, saying, "Nezha, come here and offer incense to your grandparents."

Nezha was completely confused at this moment. Upon hearing this, he said "Oh" and imitated Li Jing, saying, "Grandpa and Grandma, your grandson has come to see you."

After saying this, he also lit incense and kowtowed.

Li Jing looked at his son with satisfaction in his eyes: "Zha'er, aren't you curious why your father hid these memorial tablets in this secret room?"

Nezha glanced around and shook his head, saying, "I'm not curious. Even my mother doesn't know about this place. It must be because my father doesn't want us to know."

Li Jing frowned and said, "Aren't you curious why your father has always been unkind to you and often found excuses to beat you?"

Nezha shook his head: "I'm not curious! People outside say that it's only natural for a father to beat his son."

"From now on, Father, you won't need to rack your brains to find a reason to hit me anymore. Just hit me, and I will never resist."

Li Jing stared at Nezha for a moment, then suddenly smiled bitterly and sat down on the ground, reminiscing: "I used to have a sworn brother."

Nezha said, "I know, the Dragon King of the East Sea!"

Li Jing shook his head: "It's not the Dragon King. I've known him for much longer. It all started when my family was destroyed and I had to leave my hometown to escape for my life..."

He then recounted his childhood, his family, and how he became the sole survivor of the disaster to his son.

Nezha sat down next to Li Jing and listened in astonished as he listened to his father’s perilous, dramatic, and legendary first half of life.

Li Jing glanced at Nezha one last time, his expression complex, and said, "But this time, the tragedy that happened to your father has happened before your eyes again."

Nezha immediately realized what was happening, stood up angrily, and said, "Was this also caused by those gods?"

Li Jing nodded slightly and smiled bitterly, "Yes!"

Nezha was instantly enraged: "These damned bastards, what do they think human lives are, ants on the ground or weeds?"

Looking at the furious Nezha before him, Li Jing's face showed a look of reminiscence, and he laughed, "So alike! So very alike! Nezha, you really look like my brother named Lingzhu."

Nezha was taken aback: "Where is he?"

Li Jing shook his head: "I don't know. My father never saw him again after we parted ways at Yuquan Mountain."

As he spoke, he looked at Nezha and said with a wry smile, "Sometimes I feel that you are not my son, but more like his son."

Nezha was instantly dumbfounded.

No, Dad, do you want to listen to what you're saying?
He suddenly turned and left.

Li Jing quickly grabbed him and asked, "Zha'er, where are you going?"

Nezha said angrily, "I'm going to go find my mother and ask her clearly whose son I am."

"Don't go! Don't go! I beg you, or your mother will kill me!"

Li Jing panicked and hurriedly said, "You are my son, Li Jing's son, I am absolutely certain of that, don't go! Be good!"

Nezha said unhappily, "Then why do you suspect that I am someone else's child? Let go!"

Li Jing stammered, "Isn't it because... isn't it because you two look so alike? If not exactly the same, you're at least 98%, no, 99% alike."

Ninety-nine percent... Hearing this, even the originally angry Nezha was stunned for a moment.

A moment later, the father and son sat on the floor of the secret room.

Li Jing felt incredibly guilty at this moment, while Nezha was somewhat doubting his own existence.

No, is it really that complicated to know who your biological father is?
The father and son looked at each other, but neither of them said a word.

The atmosphere wasn't very harmonious!

There was a moment of awkwardness!
"No, it really looks that much like it?" Nezha was still somewhat incredulous.

The 99% similarity... made him less confident about his own background.

Li Jing sighed and nodded.

"No, this matter must be clarified today."

Nezha suddenly stood up angrily, glanced at his petty father, and said, "I cannot let my mother suffer an injustice as well."

(End of this chapter)