A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 74 I have a very powerful hidden weapon... (Please vote with monthly tickets!)
After Zuixianlou delivered the pot, Li Weizhou brought some "fruit wine," thus making the banquet a respectable affair.

After the "major conflict" was resolved, Li Weizhou became much quieter.

The men of the Li family greeted Li Changning, while the women greeted the two girls.

Although they were from a humble family, because of Li Changning, Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi, two girls who were only sixteen or seventeen years old, were willing to get to know the Li family. As time went on, they both experienced a family atmosphere of joy that they had never felt in a high-ranking family.

When Li Changning learned that Li Weizhou's frequent visits to the two brothels were to ask someone to rescue Li Chang'an and protect himself, he felt even more guilty, realizing he had wronged Li Weizhou. He no longer thought about correcting his misguided third brother...

"Third Brother, the more skills you display, the more people will be watching you. I can't stay in Qingzhou City for long; you'll face a lot of trouble later."

Seeing that Li Weizhou was eating quietly and only occasionally glancing at Ximei at the next table, and responding to Li Delong and Li Chang'an's toasts, Li Changning couldn't help but ask him with concern.

He's probably not a very talkative person in his daily life, so his speech was somewhat stiff.

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "Unless you don't aim for greatness, no matter what you do, you'll be watched. The world is bustling with activity, and it's all about profit."

Li Changning frowned and asked, "So, how do you plan to deal with this?"

Li Weizhou glanced at him and advised, "Si Lang, don't be so tense when things happen. What's there to deal with? They're here for profit, so cooperation is fine. Fighting and killing are for profit, but you can also make money through harmony. Others aren't stupid."

Li Changning retorted angrily, "Do you know they're willing to cooperate with you?!"

Li Weizhou looked at him like he was an idiot: "If you're really that strong, you must know I have a wise and powerful fourth brother, right?"

"Pfft! Hehehe!"

Li Chang'an was overjoyed.

Li Delong and Li Changping both laughed, while Li Changning stared at Li Weizhou for a long time, speechless.

Li Weizhou poured him a full glass of wine and said earnestly, "As long as you live, and the better you live, the safer your family will be. Whether you can enter the Upper Three Passes is another matter. With such a powerful master and two confidantes who are willing to accompany you to this harsh and cold place to visit relatives, there are very few people who can bully us."

Therefore, our family has two expectations for you. First, live a good life, and ideally, live to be 800. Second, respect your teachers and elders, be a good person, and don't let others down. We can't do much for you, but we'll try our best not to hold you back..."

"here we go again!"

Upon hearing the words "not to hold anyone back," Li Changning, who had just calmed down, suddenly became furious again. However, after being swept over by Li Weizhou's ambiguous gaze, he swallowed his anger.

Ultimately, he always felt indebted to Li Weizhou, for the two lives he had lost, and for the suffering Li Weizhou and Ximei had endured over the years…

Li Weizhou laughed and scolded, "Look at you, so pathetic. Fourth brother, with your mentality, you still want to break through the upper three levels? A real man should have a broad mind. Time can't be turned back, so don't make the most useless choices. Will regret and anxiety make things better? They can only make things worse, and worse for the whole family."

Therefore, a true man stands tall and upright, never looking back with regret, forging ahead fearlessly, even unto death! If the road ahead is clear, everyone will be well.

And look at you, always so insecure? So fussy and indecisive, you'll never amount to anything.

"Well said!!"

Just as everyone was shocked and even turned pale, Li Changning downed the strong liquor in his cup in one gulp, slammed the cup down, and shouted, "Well said! Third Brother, you're right, it's my fault... Then live well, everyone live well!!" Before he finished speaking, tears were already streaming down his face.

His chin trembled with excitement.

One can imagine the torment he has endured over the past few years.

Others had tried to advise him, but only the true "victim" could speak up and resolve his inner conflict.

This is probably a "side effect" of the Li family's children being raised with the family motto of "harmony brings prosperity" from a young age...

Li Delong and Cao Shi looked at the two brothers, as did the Li family couple and Xi Mei. Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi also paid close attention to them. Seeing Li Changning completely erupt, everyone was very excited.

There is pain, joy, sorrow, pity, and heartache.

Li Weizhou smiled and had someone bring a towel to Li Changning.

Li Changning covered his face with a towel for a long time, using so much force that his shoulders even trembled. Finally, he wiped his face vigorously, and when he took the towel off, his whole demeanor seemed to have changed...

Li Changning was probably not good at being coy, and he said to Li Weizhou very directly: "This time, my master is in charge of the Imperial Punishment Bureau and will be in charge of the order of this grand gathering. Third brother, you should come with me and make an appearance. It will be much easier for you to do things in the future."

Li Weizhou thought about it and didn't refuse.

If you have connections and don't use them, wouldn't you be a fool?

By leveraging this momentum, at least most of the lackeys can be sent flying...

……

After a very unique lunch, Li Changning still had something to ask.

After Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi were enthusiastically invited to the inner quarters by the Cao and Guo families, Li Changning bluntly asked his father and brothers, "How did Fu Tianshou die? How did those people from the Heavenly Blade Sect die? The Heavenly Blade Sect Master actually has the strength of the seventh level, although he is the weakest in the seventh level, he is still in the upper three levels!"

Li Delong and his two sons all looked at Li Weizhou, as they also wanted to know.

Li Weizhou didn't hide anything, saying, "I have a very powerful hidden weapon..."

Li Changning's eyes widened in disbelief. "What kind of hidden weapon could possibly ambush a martial artist from the Three Passes?"

Li Weizhou, annoyed, said, "Don't interrupt!" He continued, "Only when the other side is completely unaware of the existence of such hidden weapons, underestimates me, and is extremely careless, can it be launched suddenly at close range. Even then, killing Qian Jintang was a fluke. But we had no choice; her daughter has lost her mind and insists on killing me and our whole family. Madmen don't follow rules. If we let her go back alive that day, she'll come back sooner or later to assassinate us. Should we kill her then?"
Killing her would inevitably create enmity with the Heavenly Blade Sect and the Prince of Jin's Mansion. Not killing her would mean paying with one's life, and none of the Li family members should die.

Therefore, only they can die.

Li Delong strongly agreed, saying, "That's how decisive we should be! As long as we can nip it in the bud, we'll leave no future troubles!"

Li Changning was not pedantic and said, "After I finish the horse market fair, I'll go and see if there are any fish that have slipped through the net."

Li Chang'an blinked and asked, "Sanlang, do you still have that thing?"

Li Weizhou shook his head and said, "It's not that I'm reluctant to let you use it, but firstly, it's too dangerous. A slight mistake could trigger it, and everyone around us would be doomed, especially the children. Secondly, we can't use it casually. If people find out that our family has such a thing, Silang definitely won't be able to protect it, and neither will his master. Our Li family will then become the enemy of the world, and we'll die without a burial place."

Li Delong wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Ordinary people committing the crime of privately manufacturing armor is already a capital offense, let alone something like this."

Li Changning said, "So, the loud noise coming from Dayuan Mountain was fake..."

Li Weizhou quickly followed up with, "Si Lang, why do so many people believe there's a chance to become an immortal in Dayuan Mountain? Are there really immortals in this world?"

Information is invaluable in any era.

Knowing more about these things will give you a completely different understanding of the world.

For example, the origin of the bloodshot eyes in his mind...

In fact, Li Weizhou already believed that there must be traces of immortals in this world, but he just wanted to confirm it again.

Upon hearing this, Li Changning's lips twitched slightly. After a moment's hesitation, he said softly, "This is top secret, I can't tell you." But he gave her a knowing look.

"what……"

Li Chang'an understood and exclaimed in surprise, "So it really exists!" Li Weizhou leaned back in his chair, speechless for a moment.

Although you may have a subconscious feeling, it is not the same as actually confirming it.

I can't say whether I'm happy or unhappy...

I originally thought that by trading gold and silver and hiring some people to collect pig's blood, I could become the best in the world sooner or later.

Who knew that before this map even left the starting village, a much larger map had already been opened up on top of it.

A larger map also means greater danger.

It takes all sorts of methods to kill even a single level eight, and there's still level nine above that, but above level nine there are even immortals...

How can this be fun?

But it's not all bad; at least there's the possibility of cultivating immortality...

Oh, the immortals...

Fortunately, Li Changning seemed to sense Li Weizhou's frustration and comforted him, saying, "Even if there really are immortals, there is still a distinction between immortals and mortals in the world. Otherwise, things would have been in chaos long ago. For the vast majority of ordinary people, it doesn't matter whether they exist or not."

Hearing this, Li Weizhou felt somewhat relieved and nodded with a smile, "That's true. Although our Li family is destined to be extraordinary, that's a matter for the distant future. Until then, let's all do our own thing and move forward steadily."

Upon hearing this, Li Changning suddenly laughed, and Li Delong also laughed, indicating that he understood what his son was laughing about: "I told you you wouldn't believe me, but now you do, right? Is the Li family still ruled by me? I don't want him to come home, and you're still complaining..."

Li Changping was also frustrated: "It's not up to the boss to decide."

Li Chang'an also shook his head and sighed: "Not to mention the second son."

Li Changning smiled and said, "It's great. I made the right decision to come back this time. My heart is at ease now, and I feel very confident. My martial arts path will definitely improve as a result. Thank you, Third Brother."

Even his teachers and close friends in the capital city had never seen him smile like that before.

Li Weizhou waved his hand and said, "Thank the old man. Although he hasn't read many books, he understands a principle better than most people in the world."

Li Delong earnestly asked, "What principles do I understand?"

Li Changping and Li Chang'an laughed heartily, while Li Changning chuckled.

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "The principle of harmony in the family brings prosperity to all. Everyone, from the elderly to the young, knows these five words, but from kings and nobles to commoners, very few can truly live up to them. An elder in the family is like a treasure. Come, let's toast the old man together."

When Qian Jintang, the leader of the Heavenly Blade Sect, attacked, everyone retreated, and even the spies from various families fled without a trace. Only when this old man arrived with his servants did Li Weizhou accept this man as a close relative in his heart.

The four brothers toasted Li Delong together, making the wicked jailer laugh heartily and get very drunk.

After carrying Li Delong inside to rest, the eldest brother, Li Changping, volunteered to stay and serve him, and the three brothers went to the courtyard to talk.

……

"It's still the same as when I left that year, not a single thing has changed."

Inside the courtyard, Li Changning spoke softly.

Li Weizhou reminded him, "Talk more about the affairs of the martial world. You're only sixteen; you're not at the age to be sentimental."

Li Chang'an laughed and said, "Don't be too harsh, or I'll bring the duster again later."

Li Changning didn't seem to care, saying, "There's not much to say about matters of the martial world; it's nothing more than fighting and killing. Everything else is fine, but in recent years, especially in the last six months, the Demonic Sect has been rampaging like a madman. A few years ago, the major branches of the Demonic Sect were still fighting each other, but now they've all attacked the Qing Palace together. I heard that three of the eight Imperial Punishment Offices have been sent there... This is unprecedented!"

Li Weizhou asked curiously, "Wasn't it last time..."

Before he could speak, Li Changning interrupted him with a wink, saying, "Last time, Blood Demon Ye Yun was captured and brought back to the mountain by Shangqing Palace and has already been executed. This matter has been settled by the public, and Shangqing Palace vouches for it. If another Blood Transformation Demon is born, Shangqing Palace will mobilize all its forces and will surely annihilate the demon."

Li Weizhou nodded silently and said nothing more.

Li Changning then asked Li Chang'an, "You didn't tell anyone else about how Third Brother saved me last time, did you?"

Li Chang'an shook his head repeatedly and said, "Not to mention outsiders, even my mother and elder brother don't know."

Li Changning nodded and said, "You absolutely mustn't say anything. Don't involve your family in this, or even my master won't be able to protect you."

Li Chang'an suddenly remembered he had official business to attend to, slapped his forehead and said, "I'll go take care of this for a while, and I'll be back for dinner." With that, he left without looking back.

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "Second Brother is quite a character." He then asked Li Changning, "Could it be that the Demonic Sect's attack on Shangqing Palace is related to that Blood Demon?"

A look of seriousness flashed across Li Changning's face as he asked in confusion, "That's probably the reason... but it doesn't make sense. Although the Blood Transformation Demon Art is powerful, such an evil technique is taboo even within the Demonic Sect, and it's not even the most top-tier technique because the consequences are too severe. Once blood-sucking is unleashed, even the Demonic Sect itself won't tolerate it. The imperial court and all the major sects will hunt it down to the death, leaving no room for it to grow stronger. Besides, even if one masters it, they will lose their true nature and become a blood monster who only knows how to suck blood and kill. Why would they need to go to such lengths?"

Li Weizhou, with a burst of imagination, asked, "What if the demon didn't drink human blood, but instead went into the mountains to drink the blood of animals, like wild boars? Wouldn't they be undetectable? They'd be invincible when they came out!"

Li Changning chuckled and said, "If it only involves sucking the blood of livestock and beasts, then it wouldn't be called an evil practice."

"..."

Li Weizhou retorted, unconvinced, "How do you know it's impossible?"

Li Changning whispered, "When the Imperial Punishment Bureau was first established, it collected all the martial arts in the world as the imperial arsenal. What kind of martial arts techniques did they not have? After the Demonic Sect's frenzied attack on Shangqing Palace, we also sought out some death row inmates to practice the Blood Transformation Demon Art. We even found the blood of domestic animals like pigs and dogs and made several people drink it. As a result, after being forced to practice, all of them died from the coagulation of their blood vessels. They died extremely tragically, without exception."

Therefore, it could only be human blood. We gathered enough human blood and discovered that the remaining people indeed progressed rapidly in their cultivation, but they also quickly lost their senses, one by one descending into madness.

"..."

After pondering for a while, Li Weizhou said thoughtfully, "Then... the Demonic Sect might not necessarily be after the Blood Demon, right?"

Li Changning nodded, then shook his head, and exhaled, saying, "Even the people we sent inside don't know what it's all about. Perhaps only the top few big devils themselves know. But in any case, no one can know what happened that day. That's also my master's wish. The reason the Demonic Sect is called 'Demon' is because they don't mind killing the innocent."

Li Weizhou asked worriedly, "What if the news leaks out from the Shangqing Palace?"

Li Changning smiled and said, "Shangqing Palace doesn't know that you were the last person to see the Blood Demon's whereabouts. Apart from my master and Yuan Zhi, no one else knows. Even if Shangqing Palace betrays us, it will only end with me. However, my master has already warned Shangqing Palace that if there are any further changes in this matter, even innocent families will be involved, and one of the eight sects may be removed from the list."

As he spoke, he suddenly looked at Li Weizhou with shining eyes and asked, "Third Brother, when did you start practicing martial arts?"

Li Weizhou said calmly, "You can tell?"

Li Changning said, "Those who don't practice martial arts have unopened mind and weak qi and blood. Once all six orifices are opened, a natural cycle will form, and outsiders won't be able to tell when they're not making a move. But at least we can be sure that you've already become a Breaking Two martial artist with all six orifices opened. Third Brother, you're amazing."

It's only been a few months.

Li Weizhou shook his head and sighed softly, "It was Qi Erniang who, after learning of my desire to learn martial arts, helped me bathe in medicine and used her inner energy to help me open my first acupoint. Most of her years of accumulation have been spent on me. Fourth brother, if we have the chance to meet again in the future, please take care of me."

Li Changning: "..."

Is this a tradition of the Li family that even the third brother couldn't avoid?
……

(End of this chapter)