A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 149 What More Could One Ask For in a Heart at Ease

“Father-in-law, I have not failed you! Thanks to the path you paved, I have secured a title of Lady of the Ninth Rank for Yue Niang. I also risked my life to suppress a palace coup and changed Lady of the Ninth Rank to Lady of the Ninth Rank! Father-in-law, you deserve half the credit for this achievement! Isn’t that right, Yue Niang?”

Looking at his father-in-law, who was as dark as a charcoal ball, even Li Weizhou, the grandson of this heartless old man, felt a little sorry for him. He hurriedly stepped forward to praise him, and didn't forget to pull Zhou Yueniang along.

Zhou Yueniang smiled and said, "Yes, Father deserves a lot of credit."

Well, if a father can say that his daughter is a father, then all his hard work has not been in vain.

Zhou Zhi first sized up his daughter, sensing the sharp, metallic aura emanating from her. The sharpness of it even made him feel a faint sense of danger. His pupils contracted slightly, his eyes filled with shock, and he slowly nodded, saying, "Good, good!!"

Zhou Yueniang knew what her father was praising, and smiled, "Father, it is the good fortune that my husband found for me."

Li Weizhou gave a thumbs up and said, "We've already killed a Martial Saint... Father-in-law, please don't think we're really just wandering around outside, sightseeing all day. That's ridiculous. How could we let you work so hard at home while we're out having fun? It's a rare opportunity that we can't miss. I hope you won't blame us."

Zhou Zhixian took a deep breath and nodded, saying, "I don't blame you, I don't blame you!! With such an opportunity, let alone half a year, even three or five years would be worth it!"

It's amazing that he could even vaguely sense danger; it must have taken at least twenty years of effort!
He knew his son-in-law was eccentric, but he never imagined he could be this eccentric!

In this way, there's no need to worry about my daughter being suppressed by that Situ...

He looked at Li Weizhou and asked, "And you, have you encountered any good opportunities?"

Li Weizhou waved his hand and said casually, "Of course I'll take care of Yue Niang first. Father-in-law, that's what you taught me. A man must protect his woman, otherwise what kind of man is he?"

These were the words of advice given during the wedding procession. Hearing them now, Zhou Zhixian was actually moved. He patted Li Weizhou on the shoulder and said, "Good, very good! Go on, you've been traveling all this way, you must be exhausted. Go and rest. I'll use the method you left behind, assigning each person a section of road each day, so you can rest after you finish repairing the road. I must say, this method works quite well. Although a lot of people complain, no one is wasting time."

Zhou Yueniang: "..."

She tilted her head slightly, as if she wanted to get to know her husband again.

Li Weizhou chuckled dryly and said, "Father-in-law, didn't I tell you to use them to discipline them? Why are you personally taking charge?"

Zhou Zhi snorted and said, "You even want me to drag that female gatekeeper from your gate to work on the road. How can I refuse? Wei Zhou, let's just forget about that female gatekeeper. If she also gets tanned like a lump of coal, that would be outrageous."

Li Weizhou said righteously, "Father-in-law, why do you still think like that... I'm just respecting Master Chu. Let alone doing some work, Yue Niang and I even fight side by side in battle! What, Master Chu isn't doing his job properly?"

Zhou Zhixian's dark face twitched, and he shook his head, saying, "No, she came and worked for two days, and my old brothers couldn't keep up. They were all working like crazy, competing to see who could work harder. I'm afraid they'll die of exhaustion on the road construction site if this goes on for too long. Weizhou, are you deliberately plotting this?"

"No, no, no..."

Li Weizhou repeatedly denied it, saying, "That's definitely not true. Others may not know how sincere I am, but don't you know, Father-in-law? You really overestimate me; I can't think that far ahead... Father-in-law, here's what we'll do: I'm here to repair the road today, so you and Yue Niang can have a good talk. Come, come, give me, give me, give me..."

Zhou Zhixian felt a little better upon hearing this, and was about to hand over the stone hammer when his daughter said weakly, "Husband, aren't you going to see the Cat Venerable?"

Crack!

Like a bolt of lightning, it struck Zhou Zhixian's aged heart.

The stone hammer that had just been extended could no longer be extended...

Zhou Yueniang hurriedly explained, "Father, my husband said he wants to discuss with the Cat Venerable to see if he can plead for you to go to the edge of the Spirit Circle to absorb some clean spiritual energy, which might help heal your injuries!"

Zhou Zhixian felt as if he had come back to life. He slowly turned his somewhat wooden eyes and looked at Li Weizhou, asking, "Really?"

Li Weizhou earnestly asked, "Father-in-law, you have rich experience in the world of martial arts and cultivation. Tell me, is this idea reliable or not?"

Zhou Zhixian pondered for a moment and said, "Absorbing some clean spiritual energy can indeed help heal some of the internal injuries. As for whether it can fully heal... it's hard to say."

Li Weizhou hurriedly added, "After some time, I will travel to the grasslands again to find some old ginseng. I must help you recover your health; that would be a way for Yue Niang and me to show our filial piety."

Zhou Zhixian finally understood that he had misunderstood his two children. Feeling somewhat ashamed, he said, "If fate is unavoidable, you don't need to force it. I am content with your intentions. You are going to the Spirit Circle, aren't you? Go ahead, Yue Niang can stay here."

Li Weizhou nodded, leaving the father and daughter, who were from the martial arts world, to talk about their happy fate, before preparing to head deeper into the mountains.

Zhou Zhixian suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, your Shenji Valley has been bombed several times, and I've been keeping everyone from going to see it. Go and take a look yourself."

Zhou Yueniang was slightly nervous, while Li Weizhou was relaxed and replied with a smile, "Oh, okay."

……

On the east side of Shenji Valley, a corpse with its bones exposed was found.

I casually took it away, intending to leave it here as a warning to future generations, but I was worried that wild animals might come and desecrate the remains.

Inside the valley, three more corpses lay, the closest of which had somehow broken through to the entrance of the central cave, just one step away...

Tsk tsk.

After collecting their bodies, Li Weizhou went into the cave to take a look.

The empty cave was filled with nothing but murderous intent.

I wonder which important figure will come here in the future to enjoy the ultimate thrill...

After rearranging the minefield, Li Weizhou went straight to the spirit circle.

……

Standing once again on the mountain ridge, Li Weizhou looked at the beautiful scenery within the spiritual circle and was still amazed by the wonders of nature.

If you open the gateway to perceive the outside of the mountain ridge, you will find it as filthy as the Ganges River, with an unbearable stench.

But separated by only a mountain ridge, the two areas are completely different worlds.

Formations, ah, they're truly wonderful things.

He squatted down, rummaged through the dirt, trying to see if there really was something like a formation node...

"What are you doing?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

Li Weizhou turned around and saw that it was indeed a black cat in human form...

He laughed and said, "Let me see if I can get some soil to take back and tidy up the house. Your place is so clean inside, but the outside is too dirty."

"Meow?"

The black cat seemed to chuckle, its whiskers twitching slightly, before shaking its head and saying, "You're no good."

hiss!
These words were somewhat insulting. Li Weizhou snorted and stood up, saying, "I know, this is an array, isn't it? When I go to the Spirit Realm in the future, I will go and learn arrays."

The black cat shook its head again and said, "You can't do it."

Li Weizhou became serious and asked, "Why not?"

As she spoke, she pulled out a bag of cat food, which included beef and chicken flavors, both of which smelled delicious.

The black cat stared at him for a while, then took it, ate a bite, and put it aside...

It seems they won't accept it.

Li Weizhou hesitated for a moment, but still took out an ice cream.

Cats cannot actually taste sweetness because they lack the taste receptors that allow them to perceive sweetness, unlike humans.

Chocolate is also highly toxic.

But this black cat's cultivation level is so high that it can even transform into human form; perhaps it has sweet taste buds?

"It's sweet, do you want some?"

Li Weizhou asked.

The black cat tilted its head, looked at the ice cream, took it, and licked it with its little red tongue...

"Meow~"

Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with joy.

It seems she likes it.

It turns out that even after a partial transformation, cats can enjoy sweet tastes!
……

sunset.

The two sat on the edge of the mountain ridge, eating countless ice creams and spicy fish together. Li Weizhou also gleaned a lot of information about the spirit world...

As the sun was about to set, Li Weizhou was preparing to take his leave when he casually pulled out a few colorful balls and said, "I went out for a trip and brought you some gifts."

The black cat looked at the balls curiously, meowed, and tossed them into the air one by one with its paws before catching them. Looking at Li Weizhou, it asked, "These are things that ordinary people make?"

Because there is no inspiration in these things.

Li Weizhou smiled and nodded, saying, "Although it's difficult, it was indeed something that ordinary people could do."

The black cat seemed to have some admiration in its eyes, and casually asked, "You wanted to see me? Is there something you need?"

Li Weizhou actually shook his head and said, "I just got home last night. I had some free time today, so I came to visit some friends. We're having a family dinner tonight, so I'll be going now... Are you coming?"

The black cat seemed to think for a moment, then shook its head and said, "I'm not going."

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "If I were you, I wouldn't want to come out either. It's too dirty outside. Then I'll treat you to a meal when we get to the Spirit Realm."

Having said that, he left without hesitation and disappeared in an instant.

A carefree voice drifted from afar: "At dawn I sought seclusion, wandering along winding mountain paths. When my interest waned, I returned with the clouds, my heart at peace, what more could I ask for?"

"Meow~"

The black cat demon watched his retreating figure, tilted its head, and meowed again.

Then, one ball after another flew into the sky, bobbing up and down merrily, traveling through forests and lakes, until they reached the central altar...

……

Qingzhou City, the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion.

With the Duke absent, the Lady of the State was at home. She accepted the kindness of the Qingzhou government and replaced the gate plaque with the Duke's Mansion plaque.

However, he politely declined all offers of service from servants or spontaneous requests from impoverished people.

There are still the same few people at home.

In the shady area of ​​the front yard, Qi Erniang looked at her "old flame" whom she had been vying for for several years with a smile, and clicked her tongue and said, "Chu Huakui, she really hasn't changed at all. She's still so young and beautiful, and her complexion is so good."

Chu Mengjun was completely stunned and numb, because Qi Erniang's embroidered shoes had lifted three feet off the ground with each step, creating a "lotus-like" effect.

That was the symbol of leaping over the Dragon Gate to become a martial master.

Chu Mengjun couldn't understand why the crucial point she couldn't grasp, was so easy for others.
What could be more painful than seeing your old nemesis rise through the ranks?
Seeing Chu Mengjun standing there blankly, Qi Erniang sighed softly and said, "Don't overthink it, I'm here to congratulate you." Chu Mengjun couldn't even manage a bitter smile. Qi Erniang continued, "The Tiannan Prince's Mansion colluded with Jinghong Valley and the Demonic Sect to cause trouble, but our Duke has just quelled it. The Tiannan Merchant Guild that you fear will also face a full-scale hunt by the Imperial Execution Bureau and the Mountain Forest Guard. Congratulations, you're free."

Chu Mengjun: "..."

……

"She's not leaving?"

Inside the main room, Zhou Yueniang asked in surprise.

She felt embarrassed about Chu Mengjun's situation; as a woman herself, she felt it was really unnecessary to act this way.

Qi Erniang pouted and said, "Madam meant well and didn't want her to be in an awkward situation, but she doesn't appreciate it."

Zhou Yueniang sighed, "She's quite pitiful, but there's no need to..."

Feng Biwu said calmly, "If she's annoying, let her leave and find somewhere else to stay. If the man has any feelings for her, let him be. Li Lang has clearly no such intentions, so why should he stay here and make a fool of himself?"

Qi Erniang said, "I reckon she's planning to use us to provoke herself and take things a step further? Tsk tsk, she's ruthless. We used Li Lang to open the door, and she's using us to poke it open."

"..."

Feng Biwu gritted her teeth and spat, "Are you crazy!"

Zhou Yueniang laughed heartily and said, "Then let her go. Since she doesn't want to leave, she can come with us to the mountains to cut timber starting tomorrow."

Qi Erniang exclaimed "Ah!" and said in a sweet voice, "Madam, are we also going to cut wood? And we have to carry it all?"

Zhou Yueniang asked curiously, "Can't we do it? With the strength of our Martial Sect, it's a piece of cake, isn't it? But it doesn't matter if you don't want to cut down trees, building roads is also fine."

Qi Erniang: "..."

Feng Biwu was probably a little scared too. The sun was strong in the north, and prolonged exposure to the sun could easily tan one's skin, even for a martial arts master. She said, "Didn't Li Lang say before that we should try to go into the Spirit Circle?"

Zhou Yueniang smiled and said, "We have to take it one step at a time. Even the Grand Master of Ceremonies couldn't get such a good thing, it's not something that can be negotiated so easily..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Weizhou entered and said with a smile, "What's so hard about negotiating? If the Grand Master can't get it, it means he's not good enough. Can he compare to me?"

Qi Erniang exclaimed with delight, "Li Lang, you've reached an agreement with the Cat Venerable?"

Li Weizhou shook his head and said, "We haven't even talked about that yet. How can you be so mercenary right after meeting someone..."

Qi Erniang: "..."

Li Weizhou sat down next to Zhou Yueniang and said, "Let's talk about it in a few days. There shouldn't be any major problems. Let's send my father-in-law in first to heal and recuperate. Once he's fully recovered, he should be able to break through to the Ninth Martial God Realm. With him here, we can still travel around and have some fun."

Zhou Yueniang asked in surprise, "Going out to play again?"

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "If Father-in-law becomes a Breaking Nine Martial God, then the road construction will be much faster, he'll be incredibly powerful, and one person can do the work of our whole family. Father-in-law is at the prime of his life, he can't afford to waste his time."

Zhou Yueniang slapped him and scolded, "What are you saying? Father can do things, but we can't just rely on him to do everything."

Li Weizhou thought it made sense and said, "We really need to find some more capable people..." He stroked his chin and suddenly thought of something: "Right, when we went to Leiyin Temple in Yuzhou to see the 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill,' those bald monks were terrified because of the destruction of Jinghong Valley. Why didn't I think of bringing back a group of monks to repair the road? We still have to make that trip. We can't let my father-in-law keep doing this forever."

Zhou Yueniang said worriedly, "But... what if they recognize Father? I've heard from my travels that the monks of Leiyin Temple are not good people."

Li Weizhou thought for a moment and said, "Make a mask for my father-in-law, to wear when there are people around? A bronze one, the really cool kind."

"Giggle!"

Feng Biwu and Qi Erniang both laughed.

Zhou Yueniang smiled, but still said, "I'll discuss it with Father later and see if he's willing to work with those bald thieves."

Just then, Ximei came running in, panting.

Zhou Yueniang laughed and asked, "Did you have a good time?"

Qi Erniang also laughed and said, "I've seen it three times before, and it's always quite a lively story. Several little maids laugh and shout along with it, it's much more lively than when we were maids."

Xi Mei wasn't ashamed at all. She hugged her brother's arm and said, "Who told you not to have a good brother!"

Several women laughed.

Li Weizhou said to his sister, "Tonight, I'll have a family dinner with my sister-in-law and her father."

Xi Mei nodded, then asked Feng Biwu and the others, "Sister Feng, are you coming along?"

Feng Biwu shook her head and said, "We're not even familiar with each other, why be awkward?"

Qi Erniang also said, "This is the best thing about our family... no, it's the best thing about Madam that we don't need to set rules."

Zhou Yueniang smiled and said, "When it comes to life, just do whatever makes you comfortable." The main thing is that neither of these two are the type to cause trouble.

She asked Ximei, "Why did you rush over here? Is something the matter?"

Xi Mei said to Zhou Yue Niang, "Sister-in-law, Dong'er said that Liu Sao has been a bit absent-minded these past few days. Sometimes she gets easily startled, and sometimes she secretly wipes away tears. This has been going on for a while. Dong'er said that you told her to pay attention to anything unusual at home, so she asked me to come and tell you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yueniang frowned and looked at Li Weizhou.

Li Weizhou said, "Sister Liu is in charge of purchasing rice, flour, vegetables, and meat for the kitchen. Her family members are employed on the estate, and her children are studying at the estate school. It's nothing more than that. Second Aunt, go check the kitchen and see if there's anything there. Biwu, go find Dong'er and ask where Sister Liu's children are. You go check as well. Don't give anything away. Let's see who's behind this."

Both of them looked rather grim and got up to leave.

"Don't let anyone suspect anything."

Zhou Yueniang gave them a few words of advice, and after watching the two leave, she said to Li Weizhou, "It's best if it's just a false alarm, otherwise the mastermind behind it would be too despicable. They're trying to harm Ximei. Ximei should move to the courtyard in the middle tonight; there's a courtyard there."

Xi Mei nodded, then asked, "After we catch the bad guys, can we go back?"

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "Sure. It's nothing. They're probably from the Lotus Gang. It's a small matter. I'll take care of it."

Get some infrared alarms; once they show their faces, they can't escape.

Zhou Yueniang reminded her, "Didn't you say that Xiao Yichen from Shangqing Palace has disappeared? This person must hate us to the core."

Li Weizhou said, "Situ has already ordered the Imperial Execution Bureau to find his whereabouts. I've also told Silang that this person is in his hands. If even Xiao Yichen, who has lost an arm and is almost a cripple, can't handle him, then he shouldn't be called Li Changning anymore; he should be called Li Changzhu (Li the Pig).

However, this matter is most likely not Xiao Yichen's doing; if he were so despicable, he wouldn't live up to his name. Let's not talk about it anymore; leave it to Biwu and Erniang. Yueniang, go and call your father-in-law; the family banquet is about to begin. Ximei, go wash your hands.”

"Eh!"

……

Zhou Zhi changed his clothes first, and looking at the dishes on the table that he had never seen before but smelled delicious, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Is the food the Duke is eating really that good?
Is it still the old days when sons-in-law and daughters lived such a life of luxury?

No, probably not.

It wasn't like this the last time we ate together...

When was the last time we had dinner together?

When getting married?
When getting engaged...

Forget it, why think about these things? We're all just people in the martial world, we can't blame anyone...

Watching his father-in-law's changing expressions, Li Weizhou found his father-in-law quite interesting. He was formidable, but also genuine; he wore his heart on his sleeve at home, much better than his great-grandfather...

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "Father-in-law, you're always so polite. Yue Niang and I have invited you so many times, but you always make excuses that you're eating with your old brothers and refuse to come to our house for a family dinner. You should have more family gatherings in the future. Yue Niang misses you very much."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhixian scratched his head, remembering that he had called out to them many times. Feeling much better, he became bold again, waving his hand and saying, "You all live your own lives well. I'm happy even if I'm eating coarse food. Why should I, an old man, get involved with all these people in your house?"

After everyone was seated, Zhou Yueniang served the bowls, while Ximei distributed the chopsticks.

Li Weizhou asked Zhou Zhixian, "Father-in-law, have you ever met my great-grandfather?"

Zhou Zhixian clearly already knew something. He sighed, his gaze towards Li Weizhou now filled with complex emotions, and said, "That was a ruthless and invincible demon. The Dharma Master exhausted all his schemes to trap him back then. When Yueniang told me he had come out of the mountains this time, I was quite startled. I thought it would cause chaos in the martial world, but I didn't expect... You two, you look like children, but the things you've done make me feel like an old man. But don't think too much about it. No matter how nicely he speaks, he still wants to harm you. Kill him and you're done..."

Li Weizhou blinked, feeling that the old man's words had a hidden meaning. Did he suspect that the old man had taken advantage of the black demon's kindness towards him to do something underhanded?

Is he that kind of person?
But thinking about it, I decided against it; there really is no way to explain it.

After all, even if Lao Deng went in person, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand a single claw from that old devil. Let's leave some dignity for the old father-in-law.

After giving a mumbled reply, he asked, "Father-in-law, do you think the Demonic Sect can survive this?"

Zhou Zhixian laughed and said, "We will definitely survive; we won't be wiped out. The Holy Sect has a thousand-year history and has more than just its headquarters as a backup plan. However, it will be difficult for it to gain any real power within the next sixty years. Those old monsters in the Imperial Execution Division will definitely sweep everywhere, hunting down the remaining experts in the sect to death. Especially with the appearance of forbidden ghosts like demonic corpses. Not only the Holy Sect, but also Jinghong Valley and Tiannan Royal Mansion will cease to exist. However, new sects and gangs, new kings, will replace them."

Zhou Yueniang didn't care about these things. After serving Li Weizhou his favorite dishes, she shared what she considered delicious food with Zhou Zhixian and said, "Father, my husband spent most of the day chatting with the Cat Venerable in the Spirit Circle. In a few more days, there should be an opportunity."

Zhou Zhixian became somewhat embarrassed and said, "There's no need to force it. Throughout history, countless masters have longed to go there and absorb some of its spiritual energy. But it's one of the most forbidden places in this world, and no one else can do what you have. If you succeed, great; if not, it doesn't matter."

Li Weizhou raised his cup in a toast and said, "Understood, I will do my best." After the two finished drinking, he asked again, "Father-in-law, what is the biggest difficulty in opening up the mountain now?"

Zhou Zhixian said, “Trees are easy to cut down, but roots are hard to cut. Some trees in the mountains have deep roots, but the roots must be pulled out, which is difficult to deal with. There is another type of tree whose roots are not deep, but very wide, and the roots of many trees are intertwined, which is also difficult to deal with.”

Zhou Yueniang said, "Father, my husband said he wants to go to Leiyin Temple to hire some monks to do hard labor, so that you won't have to work so hard. My husband cares about you very much and can't bear to see you overworked."

Li Weizhou said, "That bastard Xia Shijie possesses the 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill.' That alone is enough evidence to prove that they colluded with each other. I think it's feasible."

Zhou Zhixian felt much better and waved his hand with a smile, "How did you come up with that? Forget it, those bald monks are the most cunning. Everyone says the Holy Sect is a demonic sect, but most members of the demonic sect still earn their own living. Only a small number, like your great-grandfather, are truly evil to the core. But those thieving bald monks are the real wicked ones. So many people who worship them have abandoned their families and gone bankrupt. Heh, they built a Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and inside are golden statues of Buddhas made of gold. In front of each Buddha, there are always large lanterns burning, each lantern burning dozens of kilograms a day... Such a filthy place, such filthy people. It's better to stay away from them. I'll take care of that mountain road."

Li Weizhou nodded thoughtfully.

Zhou Yueniang recounted Liu Sao's story again, and finally asked Zhou Zhixian, "Father, my husband said it might have been the work of the Lotus Gang. What do you think?"

Zhou Zhi nodded and laughed, "That's their style—cheating, swindling, robbing, extorting, stealing, utterly despicable. It seems the Imperial Execution Department's pursuit of them drove them all here. But this time they've met their match. I bet even the Lotus Gang leader didn't expect how many experts your family has, hahaha..."

Before the laughter had even faded, a sharp, clear whistle rang out from outside: "You audacious scoundrel, where do you think you're going?!"

"Moon Lady, take good care of Xi Mei!"

The person had vanished without a trace, leaving only a single sentence inside the house.

Xi Mei looked innocently at Zhou Yue Niang, who had already stood up halfway and stepped out with one leg, and shrugged, saying, "Sister-in-law, this has nothing to do with me."

Zhou Yueniang chuckled and tapped her forehead, saying, "Just keep being smug!"

Xi Mei chuckled, wrinkled her nose, and made a face, saying, "You'll be so proud of yourself if you marry my brother! Don't bully me, or you'll bully your baby in the future."

In a fit of anger, Zhou Yueniang grabbed her by the collar and slapped her bottom twice, just like her good brother Ximei did to her when he was in a good mood...

"Let me show you what it means for an elder sister-in-law to be like a mother!"

……

(End of this chapter)