Mountain and sea lantern

Chapter 587 The Unlucky Death Row Inmate

The city lights correspond to the starry sky, and the lights in the study are also guarded.

In the evening, without the usual fuss of guests, Li Hongjiu let loose, sitting on the floor leaning against the bookshelf, a book in one hand and a wine jar in the other, occasionally taking a swig, feeling quite content.

Ever since that day when she gave Dong Liangyu some pointers, the woman in red has made sure he has plenty of wine. Of course, she hadn't skimped on his drinks before.

Footsteps approached; it was Dong Liangying, carrying a tray with a late-night snack made by her older sister.

It was also her father who instructed his eldest daughter to cook it, and asked his younger daughter to deliver it to her master, requiring it to be delivered every night.

The fact that the second daughter, Dong Liangyu, is capable of cultivation is no secret in this family. If even the woman in red and Fu Que are surprised, how could this family not be astonished by Li Hongjiu's extraordinary abilities?

It turns out that this so-called number one among the new generation of cultivators is indeed extraordinary.

Such a great kindness and virtue! Naturally, we become even more respectful.

Mr. Li studies late into the night by lamplight; how could we forget their thoughtfulness?

Of course, it's impossible to give it only to Li Hongjiu; there's someone in the library who's even more famous than Li Hongjiu.

Therefore, Sword Saint Fuque also benefited from Li Hongjiu's fame. However, Fuque had a strong mentality and had long since lost his appetite, having become accustomed to fasting, so he always politely declined.

Dong Liangying knelt on the ground, put down the tray, set out the bowls and chopsticks for her master, and sat there waiting.

Li Hongjiu was not polite at all. If you insist on preparing it this way, then I won't be polite either. After taking a bite, he found his first apprentice muttering something unpleasant.

He immediately asked out of curiosity, "What's wrong? I didn't do anything to you, did I?"

Dong Liangying changed to a pleading expression, "Master, please give me some guidance. Look, my second sister can already cultivate, but I'm still struggling to even get started. How can I bear this?"

Li Hongjiu, however, remained calm and composed. He picked up his wine, took a sip, and slowly said, "You think I'm holding back, but you don't understand. If every principle could be explained to everyone, there would be no fools in this world. The principles are already written on paper, and everyone can see them. But if they can't be explained, they can't be explained. Even if I talk myself hoarse, it won't make a difference."

He glanced at his disappointed disciple and then smiled to comfort him, saying, "Many cultivation techniques in the cultivation world are like this. Some people can master them, while others can't master them no matter what. Don't worry, take your time. You'll understand them naturally when you can."

He didn't want to talk about this anymore. Similar topics had been discussed countless times back in the Yanbao Sect, so while drinking and eating meat, he changed the subject and said, "Your father is a very meticulous person. I suppose the names of you four siblings weren't chosen randomly. Is there some significance to them?"

Dong Liangying hummed in agreement, seemingly uninterested, and simply said, "Cultivating one's outward appearance is called 'Yi' (仪), cultivating one's inner self is called 'Yu' (玉), and nurturing a righteous spirit is called 'Ying' (英), only then can one 'Benefit' others."

Li Hongjiu said "Oh," and then added, "So it means self-cultivation and moral character building, it's about family education."

As they were talking, they heard footsteps again. The two turned around and were surprised to see Dong Wenshu walking out from behind the bookshelf.

Dong Liangying quickly stood up. "Father, what brings you here?"

"Go and cultivate, I'll talk to your master."

After sending his daughter away, Dong Wenshu cupped his hands in greeting to Li Hongjiu, who was sitting on the ground, and then sat down cross-legged as well.

He swept the plates off the floor and, seeing that there were no wine cups or extra bowls and chopsticks, he didn't know where to begin when he wanted to offer a toast.

Li Hongjiu smiled and said, "Master, please speak your mind."

“Alright, since you’ve said so, I won’t hold back anymore.” Although he said that, Dong Wenshu paused for a moment before trying to say, “We’ve all seen how Yu’er is doing lately. She seems to be much better and has stopped coughing.”

Li Hongjiu nodded slightly, seemingly giving a casual response, "Refine your body with heaven and earth, and mend your deficiencies with heaven and earth."

Dong Wenshu couldn't understand, so he continued, "It's clear that Yu'er is very suitable for cultivating your techniques. Since you are willing to guide her, Yu'er and I have discussed it. It's not appropriate to continue like this without proper authorization. If you don't mind, Yu'er is willing to become your disciple. Please grant my request."

In his view, 'legitimacy' is very important.

In his view, since the other party was willing to teach him, there shouldn't be any problem with him becoming the disciple.

However, he was unaware that he had encountered someone who defied all logic.

After taking a swig of wine, Li Hongjiu waved his hand and shook his head, "Forget about becoming a disciple. I'm already trapped in a cage, and I can't find peace here. Why would the master want his daughter to follow in my footsteps?"

Dong Wenshu stared in surprise and said, "Why do you say that, sir? You are a man of great talent. If my daughter could inherit your mantle, it would be a blessing she could never have asked for."

Li Hongjiu waved her hand again, "I didn't teach her anything, and she doesn't need me to teach her anything. Her method of circulating qi is also different from mine. I just led her out the door and let her see the world outside. There are countless paths ahead of her. Which path she chooses, which path she chooses, perhaps..."

He waved a finger above his head, pointing to the surrounding bookshelves. "Perhaps the answer has long been hidden in your family's collection of books passed down through generations." Dong Wenshu seemed to understand, so he cupped his hands again and asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Hongjiu raised his hand and slapped his forehead, then turned his head and abandoned all pretense of civility, saying in a simple and vulgar way: "What I mean is, if you become a disciple, you have to join the Yanbao Sect and accept the sect's rules. Don't cause trouble for no reason. I am neither willing nor will I accept your second son as a disciple. It's that simple."

"..." Dong Wenshu was speechless and awkwardly stood there.

Sometimes, saying things too bluntly, while easy to understand, can be difficult for people to accept...

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who had gained experience in Qiangyu City, relied on their wealth and eventually each hired a sedan chair that could lie horizontally, the kind with gauze curtains on all four sides. They were carried around the city, and the sedan chair bearers were instructed to guide them to any street or location.

The two of them only needed to look at the scenery and people, and memorize the places using the map they had bought.

On the way, Shi Chun received a message from Lao Changtai saying that he had returned and asking where they were.

Shi Chun immediately called Wu Jinliang to get out of the sedan chair and leave.

He didn't let the sedan chair bearers take him back; he walked all the way home himself.

Back at the mansion, Lao Changtai, who had been pacing in the courtyard, immediately led them inside to see what was going on.

On the table inside the room, there were about thirty black soul-binding bags, each marked with a number, as well as a Qiankun bag.

Lao Changtai pointed and explained, "There are a total of thirty-three souls. The corpses are all in the Qiankun Bag. They are all intact. Each corpse corresponds to a number on the Soul-Binding Bag."

This far exceeded Shi Chun's expectations. It was done in half a day, and even the details that hadn't been explained were handled perfectly. As expected of an elite disciple selected by various sects, he was capable of getting things done. Shi Chun was very satisfied.

Wu Jinliang asked curiously, "You can't just grab anyone on the street and kill them, can you? How could Lao Xi kill so many people so quickly? What despicable thing did he do?"

Lao Changtai smiled bitterly upon hearing this, "Anyway, as soon as I mentioned it, he patted his chest and took care of it. I only found out when he handed over the report afterward that he had actually taken care of all the death row inmates in Yongcheng prison in one go. I don't know how he did it. I guess it was the same thing as bribing his superiors."

Among the thirty-three, there were some truly wicked and evil individuals, but I can't be sure if they all deserved to die. In any case, it cost one thousand yuan per person, and I spent a total of thirty-three thousand yuan.

"..." Shi Chun and Wu Jin looked at each other, wondering if death row inmates could be killed all at once just like that.
I'm also a little worried. The underworld has its own order and rules, you know. If you act so recklessly, you might cause trouble and implicate them.

"Lao Xi was quite regretful, apparently thinking there weren't enough prisoners on death row. He asked me if I could get more time, saying he could find a way to get us more."

"We can't eat them, the boss said we'd use them for experiments, ten or more would be enough, but I thought thirty or so was about right, so I stopped. What I mean is, if the boss wants more, he should be able to handle it."

Wu Jinliang chuckled, "That Lao Xi is really rich and will do anything. Did you observe carefully on your way back? Were you followed?"

Shi Chun had already activated his right eye's special ability and was looking around.

Lao Changtai said, "He killed more than thirty death row inmates at once. I was scared too. I regretted asking him for help, but what's done is done and there's nothing I can do. I took a long detour to get back and checked repeatedly. I shouldn't have been followed, right?"

Wu Jinliang looked at Shi Chun, wondering if they had been followed; the leader of the gang was more qualified to say whether they had been followed.

After pacing silently around the room and observing his surroundings for a while, Shi Chunfang said to Lao Changtai, "Lao Xi is indeed a bit too efficient at getting things done, and it's quite frightening. Once bitten, twice shy. Next time you ask him to do something, you should make sure you understand the situation first."

"Yes." Lao Changtai nodded, indicating that he was prepared to do the same without needing to be told.

Shi Chun pointed to the bag on the table and said, "I'll take all the corpses with me, but leave half of the bag here to see how the experiment goes. If the creatures from the underworld can open the passage to come and go as well, that would be best. If not, we'll just have to bring in more living creatures from the outside. In short, we must keep the corpses and souls coming in and out under our own control. Otherwise, like Langdangchuan, every time they come in, it will alarm the underworld officials, which is too dangerous. Something bad will definitely happen in the long run."

Lao Changtai wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "That's right."

Without further ado, Shi Chun left behind all the soul-binding bags from one to fifteen, gave a brief explanation, and then left with Wu Jinliang.

The two left the city and, in a remote place far from the city, went underground and burned the incense of slaying the dead once more.

With a mix of nervous anticipation and excitement, the opening to the outside world reopened, and the two breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course, there was still another calamity. Having experienced the previous encounter above Qiangyu City, Wu Jinliang whispered a reminder: "I wonder where it will appear this time."

Shi Chun looked at the cave entrance and said, "Young Master Nan's 'Wuyu Pavilion' is in a relatively quiet place."

Wu Jinliang: "But we can't determine the location of the exit."

Shi Chun didn't dare to delay and had already slipped into the cave. After emerging from the cave and landing, he was somewhat surprised to find himself in a magnificent room, which, judging from its size, was not an ordinary place.

(End of this chapter)