America: John Wick 1924

Chapter 28. And so, Li Yu and Jane began working together.

Li Yu turned his head and looked helplessly at the Yinglong tattoo on his back.

The origin of this tattoo can be traced back to the original owner's uncle.

The original owner's uncle was a highly skilled tattoo artist.

After the Boxer Rebellion broke out, he obtained this dragon tattoo from a Taoist priest of unknown origin, who said it possessed divine power and that as long as it was tattooed on his back, he would be protected and invulnerable to swords and spears.

However, this Yinglong tattoo should not be used indiscriminately and should not be tattooed on multiple people.

After stabbing this Yinglong (a mythical dragon) into someone, you must wait until that person dies before you can stab the next person with it; otherwise, you will not be able to obtain the protection of divine power.

During the height of the Boxer Rebellion, similar "techniques" for "obtaining divine power" were commonplace.

So, the uncle tattooed the dragon on the back of the father, who had decided to join the Boxer Rebellion, to ensure his safe return.

Coincidentally, after the original owner's father joined the Boxer Rebellion, he actually returned to his hometown unharmed.

Thus, the Li family became convinced that the Yinglong tattoo truly possessed divine power and regarded it as a precious family heirloom.

After the original owner's father died of illness, the family elders suggested that the original owner inherit the Yinglong tattoo.

The original owner hesitated for a long time before accepting this.

At that time, he asked his uncle:
"Uncle, does this tattoo really have divine power?"

"It's just tattooing patterns on the body, how could it possibly have divine power?"

"If this tattoo is useless, then why did Father get it tattooed on his back?"

“Even without this tattoo, he would still fight foreigners—as many in the Boxers did—the reason he pretended the tattoo had divine power was simply to put his family at ease.”

After learning the truth, the "original owner" no longer hesitated and resolutely decided to inherit the Yinglong tattoo, which was useless but had witnessed the turbulent era of "fighting to the death against the invaders even when the strength was vastly different"!

He wanted to use the tattoo on his back as a constant reminder to himself: never forget the achievements of his fathers! He must inherit their courage!
Thus, my uncle, who was already terminally ill, mustered his last strength and spent a full six months to make the Yinglong reappear on the back of its "original owner".

After making the final stroke—that is, dotting the eyes of the Yinglong—my uncle seemed to have fulfilled a wish, slowly closed his eyes, and breathed his last.

With this, the "original owner" had no familiar relatives or friends in his homeland, allowing him to venture into the United States without any worries.

Li Yu didn't like tattoos—anyone who has received a proper education wouldn't think tattoos are a good thing.

Even in the Western world, which is highly regarded by those who cultivate animals, no wealthy family would allow their children to have tattoos.

However, the Yinglong tattoo on its back was not for showing off or flaunting its power, but rather to embody a moving heroic deed.

Thus, even Li Yu, who disliked tattoos, couldn't help but feel a bit of respect for it.

Of course, to avoid scaring others, Li Yu rarely showed his back tattoo to outsiders.

It must be said that the original owner's uncle's craftsmanship was truly remarkable.

The dragon he carved himself is not only lifelike but also incredibly detailed, truly deserving of the praise "exquisite craftsmanship".

Because it is so realistic and exquisite, it could actually be quite frightening if an unsuspecting person were to suddenly see it.

For example, right now, Jane stared blankly at "Yinglong," looking completely stunned.

After briefly explaining the origin of the tattoo on his back, Li Yu quickly got dressed.

"Sister, I'm sorry you saw something frightening."

Jane took a beat to recover and said softly:

"Although I don't know much about tattoos, I think your tattoo is very beautiful, like a work of art."

At this moment, Li Yu, who had an exceptional sense of smell due to the "One Against a Thousand Lv.B" buff, suddenly smelled something burning.

He tilted his head back and sniffed a few times.

"Sister, do you have the fire turned off?"

Upon hearing this, Jane's face changed drastically. "Ahhh! My meat sauce!"

She let out a strange cry, stomped her slippers on the floor, and rushed off to the kitchen.

Watching Jane disappear in the blink of an eye, Li Yu couldn't help but chuckle.

Although he wasn't very familiar with Jane, he already had a general impression of her:

—The nun seems a bit silly…

……

……

Jane's house, first floor, dining room—

A long table is placed in the center of the restaurant, with two sets of tableware placed at opposite ends of the table.

The kitchen is right next to the restaurant, and because there are no walls to block the view, people in the restaurant can clearly see what people in the kitchen are doing.

Janel prepared a simple pasta dish for dinner.

A large bowl of freshly cooked spaghetti was placed on one corner of the long table, emitting steam and aroma.

When Li Yu entered the restaurant, he happened to see Janet stirring a large pot of fragrant meat sauce with a long-handled ladle, just like a witch.

"Pastor, thanks to your reminder, otherwise this pot of meat sauce would have been ruined. Please have a seat, dinner will be served soon."

Seeing that he had nothing else to do, Li Yu could only obediently pull over a chair and sit down at the table.

Bored out of his mind, he unconsciously turned his head to look at Jane's back—she was quite conspicuous after changing her clothes.

The Jane was no longer wearing the "ascetic" nun's habit, but a loose white dress, her bare feet in slippers revealing her delicate and slender ankles.

To make cooking easier, she wore a long, pale yellow apron that reached her thighs, a cute cook's headscarf, and her long blonde hair was tied into a neat high ponytail.

This image, while lacking the dignified grace of a nun, adds a touch of the vitality that should be present at her age (18).

Soon, she returned to Li Yu with a big, steaming pot of meat sauce in her arms and a big smile on her face.

"Although it's a canned product, it tastes pretty good. I hope you like it!"

Li Yu smiled:

"To be honest, one of my greatest strengths is that I'm not picky about food; I eat whatever's available."

Amidst their laughter and conversation, they divided the tasks: Li Yu added noodles, and Jane added sauce.

As they added clumps of noodles to each other's plates, Li Yu, whose next goal was "finding a job," casually asked Jane:

"Sister, do you know which church is hiring a pastor?"

Jane paused, her expression playful.

"...Then you've come to the right person."

As she spoke, she smiled at Li Yu.

My church is in dire need of a pastor!

Li Yu was stunned:
"Your church?"

Jane nodded rapidly, like a chick pecking at rice.
"After my adoptive mother passed away, she left the Stone Chamber Church to me."

"For a long time, this church has been managed by one person."

"Although it's not a cathedral, I'm often too busy to handle everything on my own."

"If you don't mind the low income, you're very welcome to join us!"

(End of this chapter)