Druid Fairy

Chapter 6 Spiritual Root Test
Eating, sleeping, training the crows.

Life was leisurely and carefree.

Before long, the auspicious day for Li Ping'an to test his spiritual roots arrived.

Early in the morning, Li Rongzhou, carrying his silver and his son, prepared to set off for Pantao Town.

Li Pingcan then learned that testing one's spiritual root cost three taels of silver, which was unaffordable for farmers with many children.

Before parting, Madam Qin bent down to tie the talisman she had obtained for her second son and earnestly instructed him, "Keep it close to your body."

Li Ping'an's face tightened, and he nodded seriously.

Li Pingfu, unlike his usual playful self, raised his fist to encourage his second brother.

This heavy atmosphere made even the usually calm Li Pingcan a little nervous; it was even more anxiety-inducing than waiting for the college entrance exam results in his previous life.

At least with the college entrance exam, you have a general idea of ​​whether you have a chance and can be mentally prepared, but for ordinary people, testing their spiritual roots is all about luck!

This is the only chance in this lifetime to defy fate!
"Testing your spiritual root? Don't waste that money!"

A sharp sound suddenly came in.

Old Mrs. Wang, the neighbor, had never gotten along with Li Rongzhou's family. She couldn't stand Qin's "pretentious" manner and sneered with her hands on her hips, "Like begets like, a rat's son knows how to dig a hole, how can a peasant's son become an immortal?"

The five members of the Li family did not look too good.

That's such an unlucky thing to say!

Li Rongzhou stopped his eldest son, who was jumping up and down in anger, and whispered, "Don't cause any trouble when your brother is testing his spiritual roots."

He wasn't unangry, but he didn't want to waste the "auspicious time".

Li Ping'an's tension turned into anger at the saying "Don't underestimate a young man's potential," and he proudly shouted at Granny Wang, "You wait, I will definitely become an immortal!"

……

Success or failure is not determined by human will.

As evening fell, Li Ping'an followed behind Li Rongzhou dejectedly, causing the smiles of Qin Shi and the others who were there to greet them to falter.

Next door, Granny Wang poked her head out, pursed her lips which were still covered in sunflower seed shells, and raised her voice with a grin.

"I told you, why waste that money?"

"The second son of the Li family looks like a bean sprout, the kind of person who would break if the wind blew him down. How could he possibly withstand the blessings of the gods!"

"Listen to this! Even the old hen is clucking and laughing at you! You silly brat, you'd better go back to the fields with your father and dig for food. You're useless, or your parents will abandon you!"

……

Li Ping'an, whose self-esteem had already been severely damaged, could no longer bear it and burst into tears, running home.

"you!"

Qin was so angry that her lips trembled. Holding her youngest child, she was about to chase after her second son, without arguing with the wicked woman. In the year she had lived there, she knew Wang Pozi's character well—unreasonable, cunning, and treacherous. Arguing with such a person was a waste of time; the more she argued, the angrier she would get.

"What do you mean, 'you'? You're just putting on an act!"

Granny Wang felt as refreshed as if she had drunk iced mung bean soup on a sweltering summer day. This Qin woman, who always acted so high and mighty like a landlord's wife, had finally fallen into her trap!

Seeing Wang Pozi's gloating expression, Li Pingcan was furious. Even in his previous life, he had never seen such a vicious person.

Just because his family used to be landlords, but fell into misfortune, this person found ways to be sarcastic and mean-spirited!

"You think you can bully me, a Druid?!"

"The Whip of Thorns!"

With a single thought, Li Pingcan gathered the power of nature, causing the wild grass by the fence to gleam with a green light, and a nimble thorny vine to slither like a snake.

Granny Wang was laughing so hard she was doubled over when, in the next instant, her fat body tumbled heavily into a mud pit.

"Ouch! That hurts so much! Who pulled me?"

Just as she was about to unleash a torrent of curses, she saw countless insects emerge, centipedes and cockroaches swarming in through the gaps in her trouser legs.

"what!"

As dusk fell, a bloodcurdling scream, like that of a pig being slaughtered, rang out.

The atmosphere at the Li family's residence was heavy.

Although the couple were somewhat disappointed, they did not blame their child. They believed that spirituality was a beautiful wish, and that not having it was the norm.

But Li Ping'an, who was sensitive and had a strong sense of self-respect, cried for two whole hours after being humiliated by Granny Wang. He didn't eat dinner and his eyes were swollen like fish bubbles.

Li Pingcan couldn't help but worry, as he hadn't gotten the satisfaction he wanted from dealing with Granny Wang at all.

Qin and Li Rongzhou were also arguing inside the house.

"Honey, go and talk to Ping An. This child has been stubborn since he was little," Qin said worriedly.

“How can a real man be discouraged by a woman’s words?” Li Rongzhou said dismissively.

He disliked Granny Wang's unlucky words, but he also frowned at his second son's despondency.

Just then, Li Ping'an's hoarse voice rang out from outside the door, "Father, may I come in?"

"Come in, what's the matter?" Li Rongzhou asked.

"I figured it out."

Li Ping'an raised his red and swollen eyes, "Our family is weak in Peach Blossom Village, so Granny Wang dares to bully the weak. The skinny dogs in the village get bitten by the big dogs and howl! It's the same with people; if you're weak, you'll be bullied!"

Li Rongzhou was gratified, never expecting his second son to see through this. It was indeed the case; as outsiders fleeing famine, the village had a strange hierarchy of contempt, and the Li family was inexplicably ostracized, even though they shared the same ancestry.

Seeing his father's approval, Li Ping'an mustered his courage and said, "Father, I've thought it over. I'm not cut out for martial arts. I want to study. I want to take the imperial examinations. Even if I can't become a celestial official, I want to be a clerk and support my family!"

He said earnestly and stubbornly, "I know that studying is expensive. I can work as a servant for a wealthy family in town and save money to study slowly."

This was the most suitable solution that seven-year-old Li Ping'an could think of.

Qin felt a pang of sadness and hugged him tenderly, saying, "You won't be a servant; I'll support your education!"

Li Rongzhou exclaimed happily, "Defeat doesn't discourage you, you have ambition, you're truly my kind!"

…………

That night.

In the darkness, Li Rongzhou opened his eyes and tiptoed out of bed.

But they didn't notice that a small mushroom had suddenly grown on their cotton-padded coat.

The autumn night was slightly cool. He nimbly left the courtyard and followed a small shadow ahead. He made his way to Granny Wang's house in the dark and climbed over the courtyard wall.

The moonlight illuminated Li Pingfu's tense face.

He was seen crouching by the apricot tree in Wang Pozi's backyard, holding a slingshot. Wang Pozi had a habit of getting up at night, and it didn't take long for him to find his target.

Draw a bow and shoot a stone.

"Snapped!"

A pebble struck precisely in the crack of the wooden plank beneath Wang Po's feet, startling her as she squatted in the pit.

"what?"

Before she could react, the wooden board snapped with a crack.

Granny Wang slipped, fell backward, and plunged in terror into a stinking, maggot-infested cesspool.

'Hahaha!'

Seeing Wang Pozi's miserable state, Li Pingfu laughed silently and gleefully, only to be grabbed by the back of his neck.

Discovered?

Li Pingfu was shocked. He turned his head and saw his father's solemn face.

He immediately relaxed, grinned, raised his slingshot, and whispered, "Dad, I've avenged Ping An!"

Li Rongzhou didn't say anything. He carried Li Pingfu back to his courtyard like a chick. The cold moonlight made his profile look sharp as a knife.

He stared calmly at his eldest son and asked in a cold voice:
"Do you want to kill someone?!"

(End of this chapter)