The Cycle of Reincarnation in the Four-Courtyard House: A Journey Through the Heavens

After having breakfast together, the two left the inn's courtyard.

The morning light was warm, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the country lanes outside the town were lush with greenery and shrouded in a thin mist.

The two followed the official road towards the ancestral graves and forests on the northeastern outskirts of Renjia Town.

Before long, the two arrived at Old Master Ren's grave.

Located in a quiet, mountainous area on the outskirts of the city, this place is open and sheltered from the wind, and has long been filled with people.

More than 20 relatives of the Ren family, members of collateral branches, and servants from the family were all present, standing solemnly on both sides, waiting for the grave relocation ceremony to begin.

A simple altar was temporarily erected in the center of the venue, with incense burners and offerings prepared, and yellow banners fluttering gently in the wind, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Uncle Nine, dressed in a brand-new bright yellow Taoist robe, stood upright before the altar with a solemn expression, holding three sticks of incense, and began the worship ceremony before the relocation of the grave.

The clansmen took turns burning incense, kowtowing, and paying respects to their ancestors in an orderly manner.

After everyone had finished offering incense and stood on either side, Ren Fa slowly walked to Uncle Jiu's side, looked at the auspicious ancestral gravesite at his feet, and said with a touch of emotion, "Uncle Jiu, when we were searching for a burial site for my father, the feng shui master predicted that this was a rare and auspicious place, a truly precious feng shui location!"

Uncle Nine nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding terrain and mountains with profound depth, and slowly said, "That's right, this place is called the Dragonfly Skimming Water Cave. This cave is 34 feet long, but only 4 feet of it is truly usable blessed land; it is 13 feet wide, but the effective treasure area is no more than 3 feet. The earth's veins are dynamic and the energy is extremely concentrated, so this coffin cannot be buried flat, but only in a ritual burial."

"Uncle Nine is indeed a master of Taoist arts, with exceptional insight!"

Ren Fa nodded repeatedly in amazement, saying, "That feng shui master from back then said exactly the same thing you said!"

Uncle Nine did not reply, but gave Ren Fa a meaningful look, which made Ren Fa feel a little awkward.

This auspicious burial site was left to his father by that feng shui master, but Ren Fa later learned of it and used less-than-honorable means to acquire it for himself.

The feng shui master harbored resentment and tampered with the tomb (sealing it with cement to isolate it from the earth's energy and moisture), turning a blessed site into a deadly one. This is also the reason why the Ren family's fortunes have declined continuously over the past twenty years.

Just then, Wencai, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, couldn't help but step forward and ask with a bewildered look, "Master, what is a legal funeral? Is it a French-style funeral?"

Uncle Nine turned his head helplessly and glared at him fiercely, then hissed in a low voice, "Nonsense! Stop talking nonsense and causing trouble! Stand aside!"

After being reprimanded by his master in front of everyone, Wencai shrank back and obediently stepped aside, not daring to interrupt again, while Qiusheng next to him laughed gleefully.

Just then, Ren Fa spotted two figures walking side by side not far away.

Ren Tingting was seen walking intimately beside a young stranger. The two walked slowly side by side, their expressions familiar and their behavior affectionate.

Ren Fa frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure and doubt rising in his heart.

His daughter had just returned from the provincial capital yesterday. She was usually well-behaved and reserved, but today she was walking so intimately with a strange man, which inevitably surprised him.

He immediately strode forward to meet the visitor and inquire about his identity.

But as he approached and carefully examined Li Xiao's appearance and demeanor, the dissatisfaction and doubt in his eyes vanished instantly, and his expression subtly changed.

Ren Fa, as the richest man in Renjia Town, has been a prominent figure in the business world for many years and has seen countless people. He is quite good at judging people.

The man before me, Li Xiao, stood tall and imposing, dressed in a clean and sharp simple suit, free from any vulgarity, and exuding the air of a superior.

A young man with such an aura is far beyond what ordinary country bumpkins or rich young masters can match; he is clearly a young master from a top-tier wealthy family.

"Tingting, why are you only arriving now?" Ren Fa first asked his daughter softly, then turned his gaze to the distinguished Li Xiao beside him, and asked in a polite tone, "I wonder who this gentleman is...?"

Fearing her father might misunderstand, Ren Tingting quickly stepped forward and gently took Ren Fa's arm, introducing him with a touch of shyness, "Dad, this is Brother Li Xiao. He's a guest who's come all the way from Beijing!"

"The capital city of Beijing?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Fa was suddenly startled, but then his mind cleared up instantly.

The capital city of Beijing is a major city of great importance in the country, where powerful and wealthy families gather. Young people who can emerge from such a place are all exceptionally accomplished.

Now he understood completely. No wonder the young man in front of him had such an extraordinary demeanor and an air of nobility; he was from a prominent family.

With his doubts dispelled, Ren Fa's face instantly lit up with a warm smile, and his attitude became even more respectful and humble. He took the initiative to raise his hands and clasp his hands in a salute: "So you are Mr. Li. I have long admired you. My name is Ren Fa."

"You're too kind, Mr. Ren."

Li Xiao's expression was gentle and his manners impeccable. He smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute, his demeanor calm and composed, neither ostentatious nor hurried.

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, a hurried sound of footsteps came from the side.

A tall, thin man wearing glasses and with a somewhat sleazy appearance strode over, a deliberately ingratiating smile on his face, his gaze fixed on Ren Tingting.

This man was none other than Awei, the security captain of Renjia Town.

He leaned closer to Ren Tingting and said in a solicitous tone, "Cousin, I heard from Uncle that you came back from the provincial capital yesterday. It's rare for you to come back to your hometown. After the grave relocation ceremony today, how about your cousin takes you to the city to go shopping, see a play, and try some new-style snacks?"

Faced with Awei's deliberate attempt to get close, Ren Tingting couldn't hide her impatience. She subconsciously took two steps back to the side, creating some distance: "Cousin, I'm busy today."

Upon being coldly rejected, Awei's smile froze slightly, and a sense of frustration rose in his heart.

Then, his gaze fell on Li Xiao, who was tall and handsome, standing to the side.

In an instant, all the eagerness in Awei's eyes vanished, replaced by intense vigilance and undisguised hostility.

He had always liked his cousin, Ren Tingting, who was beautiful and well-educated, and was determined to marry her. He tried his best to please her.

Ren Tingting remained cold and distant towards him, never showing any intimacy whatsoever.

Today, he saw with his own eyes his beloved cousin behaving intimately with a strange man, walking side by side, her eyes filled with a tenderness and smile she had never shown him before.

Intense jealousy and hatred surged into his heart instantly, gripping Awei's mind tightly.

He sized Li Xiao up and down, his eyes filled with malice, already regarding this newcomer as his number one rival in love.

Li Xiao was well aware of Awei's hostility.

However, in his eyes, the other party was nothing more than a clown, a nobody who could be crushed at will, so he completely ignored the other party's unfriendly gaze and walked directly towards Lin Jiu.