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

Zhong Wanchou was ugly, so he had an inferiority complex in his personality.

By a twist of fate, he married the beautiful Gan Baobao and cherished her dearly.

After Gan Baobao became pregnant with Duan Zhengchun's child and gave birth to a daughter, Zhong Wanchou still treated Zhong Ling as his own daughter.

But behind this affection lies deep suspicion and unease. He knows that Gan Baobao was in love with Duan Zhengchun and that Zhong Ling is not his biological daughter, yet he deceives himself and chooses to endure it, hoping only to stay with Gan Baobao forever.

He hated Duan Zhengchun so much that he even erected a sign at the entrance of Wanjie Valley that read, "Anyone with the surname Duan who enters this valley will be killed without mercy." Later, he even hired four villains at great expense to deal with Duan Zhengchun. However, he was afraid that Gan Baobao would get angry, so once he noticed that his wife was losing control of her emotions, he would immediately apologize to her and say nice things.

Therefore, Li Xiao felt deep sympathy for this minor character in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils".

This is, after all, a real world, where everyone is a living, breathing being, so Li Xiao wouldn't feel like he was playing around with life.

Seven days later, the two finally returned to Wanjie Valley.

Hearing the noise outside, the door of a wooden house in the valley suddenly opened, and a woman dressed in a light green silk shirt, about thirty-six or thirty-seven years old, with delicate features and a face that vaguely resembled Zhong Ling, walked out of the house.

Li Xiao recognized at a glance that the beautiful woman in front of him must be Gan Baobao.

When Gan Baobao saw Zhong Ling, she immediately ran over and hugged her tightly.

"Ling'er, where have you been all these past year? You've kept your mother on edge the whole time."

Zhong Ling's eyes were also red-rimmed as she hugged her mother and said, "Mother, I've been with Brother Li for the past year!"

"Brother Li?"

Gan Baobao was taken aback, then looked at Li Xiao who had just walked into the courtyard fence, and her beautiful eyes immediately lit up.

She was immediately struck by Li Xiao's handsome appearance and his calm and aloof demeanor.

Li Xiao stood still, his body seemingly enveloped in an invisible aura, but it was not a sharp and outward-looking aura; rather, it was a gentle and harmonious aura that blended with the universe.

Li Xiao had absorbed all of Wu Yazi's seventy years of profound internal energy. At this moment, Li Xiao had already broken through the shackles of the mortal world and reached the supreme realm of "unity of heaven and man".

This level of cultivation showed no sign of deliberate effort; rather, it was as natural as breathing.

He was dressed in a moon-white robe, the hem of which fluttered gently in the breeze, moving unhurriedly, like a willow swaying in the wind or clouds drifting across water. Every subtle gesture seemed to resonate with the rhythm of the universe.

"Ling'er, this is..."

Zhong Ling quickly began to introduce, "Mother, his name is Li Xiao. After I was captured by the Shennong Gang, it was Brother Li who rescued me. I've been with Brother Li for the past year!"

Zhong Ling was very obedient. Without Li Xiao's permission, she did not reveal that she had been cultivating at Leigu Mountain for the past year.

Gan Baobao suddenly realized what was happening. A smile appeared on her face, and she curtsied to Li Xiao, saying, "This humble servant thanks this young hero for rescuing my daughter. Please accept my bow!"

Li Xiao turned slightly to the side and said, "Auntie, there's no need for such formality. Ling'er and I hit it off immediately, so naturally I couldn't just stand by and watch her fall into the hands of thieves!"

Gan Baobao smiled and gestured, "Young hero, please come inside for tea!"

"Thank you, Auntie!"

After they returned to the cabin, Zhong Ling brought Li Xiao tea, then sweetly took Gan Baobao's hand and asked, "Mommy, where's Daddy? Where did he go?"

When Gan Baobao heard the word "father," her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she disliked the person represented by that word.

"He's gone to the mountains to gather herbs again!"

Li Xiao saw all of this, but he couldn't interfere in the matter between Zhong Wanchou and Gan Baobao. He could only say that fate had its own plan.

Zhong Wanchou was willing to be Gan Baobao's lapdog, but Gan Baobao still had feelings for the heartless Duan Zhengchun. Li Xiao had seen too many of these melodramatic love triangles in his previous life.

When Gan Baobao inquired about Li Xiao's family situation, Li Xiao naturally had nothing to hide and told her everything.

Upon learning that the handsome young man before her was actually from an official family, Gan Baobao became even more satisfied with him.

Li Xiao did not stay in Wanjie Valley for long, and prepared to leave early the next morning.

Zhong Ling originally wanted to go with him, but Gan Baobao and Li Xiao persuaded her not to.

"Ling'er, you've been away from home for a long time. This is a good opportunity to spend more time with your family. Also, you need time to properly refine your Lesser Formless Skill!"

Yesterday, Li Xiao selectively told Gan Baobao about some of the things that had happened recently.

Gan Baobao was naturally very happy to learn that her daughter had this opportunity.

So Zhong Ling agreed to stay in Wanjie Valley to cultivate diligently, while Li Xiao rode his magnificent horse towards Jiangnan.

According to the timeline, the Beggars' Sect Conference in Xingzilin, Jiangnan, is about to be held. This is an extremely important event in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", so how could he miss it!

Riding at breakneck speed, Li Xiao arrived at the shores of Taihu Lake in Jiangnan in just seven days.

Just two hours after he arrived at the lake, a happy smile appeared on his lips.

He immediately spotted a Tibetan monk in a yellow robe and straw sandals, and a disheveled, dusty young man who had arrived at the scene.

That's right, the person who came was Duan Yu. According to the plot, that Tibetan monk must be Kumārajīva.

"Heh, it's true that timing is everything. I suppose Master Kurong has already burned the Six Meridians Divine Sword Manual of Dali!"

Duan Yu's gaze swept across the lakeside, and he suddenly caught sight of Li Xiao's figure. His eyes instantly lit up with wild joy.

He was like a drowning man grasping at a last straw, desperately shouting at the top of his lungs, "Brother Li! Save me! Help me!"

Before he could finish speaking, Kumārajīva gently pressed his shoulder, causing him to swallow the rest of his words. He could only look at Li Xiao with an anxious expression and pleading eyes.

Li Xiao walked over, looked at Duan Yu, and asked, "Isn't this Brother Duan? How come you're in such a sorry state?"

He then looked at the tall and imposing Kumārajīva beside him: "This master is...?"

Kumārajīva stopped in his tracks, looking at Li Xiao with some surprise and uncertainty. A hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes, which then turned into scrutiny.

He had cultivated for many years and had extensive knowledge, but he could not discern the depth of the man in the blue robe before him. He only felt that the man's aura was plain and unadorned, yet it was also subtly in harmony with heaven and earth, which made him inexplicably wary.