A-Li, standing on the second-floor balcony, lowered her gaze to her grandmother.

Her grandmother had just slammed her teacup onto the coffee table.

Not because of Zhao Yi’s words.

But because some things cannot withstand scrutiny, especially for intelligent people. Once they calm down and ponder, the true nature of things emerges.

Her grandmother had almost figured it out earlier.

First, there were the prepared paper effigies, then the current environment, and when *it* arrived, it was still trying to fully open its eyes. If the task was completed, why would it stay here instead of leaving?

All of this pointed to one possibility: Xiao Yuan… was not dead yet!

Her grandmother, before reaching this “realization,” immediately used the Liu family’s secret technique to revert to her younger self.

Because,

Grandmother was wise, but Grandma Jie was impulsive.

As a Liu family member who spearheaded Feng Shui, how could she not know how to avoid this karma?

This was also a form of confidence for her grandmother. She believed that her younger self, who had not experienced the trials and tribulations of the world, would lack the mind and understanding to see through this intricate setup.

And indeed, that was the case.

The first thing the young Liu Yu-Mei did after standing up was to turn to A-Li on the roof and praise her with a smile:

“Younger sister, you look even more beautiful than when we last met. The thought of such a lovely sister being taken by some man in the future makes me want to cut him down with a sword right now!”

Liu Yu-Mei rarely used this secret art before.

After all, the prerequisite for using this secret art was to be old enough for it to be worthwhile and necessary.

Therefore, the last time Liu Yu-Mei used the secret art to revert to her youth, what she saw and heard was actually stored in the memories of her past self at that age.

She recognized A-Li.

Although she didn’t know A-Li was her granddaughter, she didn’t even know that she would marry the persistent and thick-skinned Young Master Qin in the future. Yet, this ancestral blood connection gave her an extremely strong, natural sense of closeness to A-Li.

A-Li didn’t respond, merely shifting her gaze calmly back to… Aunt Liu.

Her grandmother’s hurdle was cleared.

Uncle Qin didn’t need to be worried about.

The only one left was Aunt Liu.

Before meeting the boy, the girl mostly sat alone behind the threshold, sometimes for an entire day.

Even after meeting the boy, she was only slightly more lively than before. On days when the boy wasn’t home, she no longer sat blankly, but still preferred to be alone.

But the boy always knew that A-Li was a very sensitive person.

Because Li Zhui-Yuan knew that he himself was one of the hardest people in the world to deal with.

A-Li hadn’t seen many people since she was little, but she saw ghosts and evil spirits every day.

Many things, she could actually see more clearly and thoroughly than ordinary people.

Although, she wasn’t used to this positioning yet.

But she knew the boy’s intention in placing his paper effigy by the coffin.

She had to try and take on this responsibility. She wanted to help him, she had to do well. If she couldn’t even handle things at home, how would she go out with him to *zou jiang* in the future?

The girl bent down and retrieved the Go board from under the rattan chair.

She and the boy had long been accustomed to playing blind Go using the sky, but this board was also often taken out and used, because sometimes the sun was too bright and dazzling.

The girl unlatched the Go board box, tilting her palm forward.

“Hua la la…”

Black and white pieces slid out, a few landing on the balcony, but most falling below, scattered across the dam by the strong wind, making a continuous, jumbled clattering sound.

Aunt Liu, standing at the very back, watched the pieces bouncing around her. Immediately, she recalled countless days when she would lean against the kitchen doorway, cracking melon seeds while watching the golden boy and jade girl play Go on the balcony.

Emotions only need a breach to instantly overwhelm all reason.

This was not merely evoking feelings through a scene, but A-Li’s every corresponding action, in her depiction, deepening the concept of “Xiao Yuan is dead.”

Aunt Liu’s expression remained unchanged, but the shadows around her, representing countless snakes, insects, and gu spirits, turned from black to red, constantly vibrating as if boiling.

A-Li finally managed to fix her gaze on the battle ahead.

Earlier, Uncle Qin had repelled it with one punch. Now, Uncle Qin delivered a second punch.

For the second punch, *it*, with its eyes fully open, was prepared.

Uncle Qin’s figure no longer moved with the instantaneous speed of the first punch; his movement through space was clearly obstructed.

But this second punch was still very fast.

*It* raised its fist and met the blow.

“Boom.”

This time, *it* was still repelled, but the distance it was pushed back was only half of the first time.

The ground shook, and the pebbles on the path, which had long been compacted, were all squeezed out and sent flying in all directions.

Seeing this, Zhao Yi quickly waved his hand, throwing off his black Jiao skin to form a black mist barrier, helping those around him, whether paralyzed or unconscious, to block these pebbles.

Each pebble, upon being intercepted, immediately turned to dust.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The force of the pebbles was greater than Zhao Yi had imagined. Under successive heavy impacts, Zhao Yi felt a tightness in his chest and a sweetness in his throat.

Fortunately, he blocked them all. If any pebble had accidentally pierced someone’s heart or forehead on the ground, that person in reality would also die!

Zhao Yi licked his lips, his eyes showing lingering fear.

Before, *it* hadn’t fully woken up, only using the instinct of swatting flies in its sleep to effortlessly send them flying one by one. Now, its fight with Uncle Qin, seemingly without excessive commotion, was actually a display of both sides’ mastery of power, which had already reached a microscopic level.

Those grand, imposing movements often seen in combat were, in fact, a great waste.

Zhao Yi really wanted to offer Uncle Qin some advice: when you fight, don’t accidentally get us bystanders killed.

He could tell that Uncle Qin didn’t do it on purpose. Uncle Qin hadn’t fought seriously in too long, his skills were rusty. Moreover, before that oddball named Li came along, generations of Qin family members had always *zou jiang* alone, and Uncle Qin was no exception. So, he simply didn’t have the experience of having to worry about teammates behind him while fighting.

Of course, their group didn’t have the nerve to call themselves his teammates.

Forget it, I’ll break this connection for you first.

Zhao Yi had long known about the red thread secret art created by Li. He had wanted to learn it back then, and Li was willing to teach it.

But the conditions for using this secret art were too stringent. As the primary caster of the red thread, if any bound person harbored ill will towards you, even just a thought could lead to your immediate death.

Li could use this move on Run Sheng and the others, but he wasn’t confident using it on his subordinates at the time.

Even with his current subordinates, the only one he dared to use it on was A-Jing.

As long as he didn’t order A-Jing to kill his Elder Brother Yuan, A-Jing wouldn’t harbor ill thoughts towards him.

Xu Ming had to be excluded.

Even the Liang sisters, they loved him very much, but Zhao Yi didn’t dare to connect red threads with them. Who knew if they might suddenly get jealous or inwardly curse him with a “deadbeat,” resulting in his death? What good would their tearful regrets do then?

Zhao Yi’s fingertip touched Chen Jing’s brow. Before breaking the connection, he hesitated.

They were already in the final showdown, and their true master had already made a move. At this point, even just watching from the side… no, even being unconscious nearby and breathing along would count as increasing participation, wouldn’t it?

Zhao Yi’s understanding of Jiang Shui had directly jumped up a major rank, as he had just copied the “Zou Jiang Code of Conduct” twice.

Li’s Jiang Shui this time was very abnormal. The last time someone dared to actively manipulate Jiang Shui to achieve their goals was at the level of Bodhisattvas and Great Emperors.

And if Jiang Shui manipulation succeeded, it would be recognized by the Way of Heaven, with all certificates and procedures complete, ensuring merit.

As long as the base number was large enough, even the smallest proportion would be a substantial piece of meat.

A-Jing couldn’t be cut off, he had to stay here. For this banquet, two people from his side would be at the table.

Turning his head, Zhao Yi looked at Chen Xi-Yuan.

Miss Chen wasn’t unconscious, just severely injured, with her eyes wide open.

Moreover, the purpose of Chen Xi-Yuan’s wide-open eyes was not to observe the battle ahead for learning and insight. Instead, she was craning her neck, turning her head, and staring intently at the young Madam Liu standing on the dam behind them!

Zhao Yi really wanted to laugh. He felt like a clown.

He had been competing with such a person all this time, whether on the river or with Li. The most absurd thing was that he had never been able to beat her!

Zhao Yi wanted to go up and help Chen Xi-Yuan disconnect.

You go first, you eat one bite less, and A-Jing and I can each get half a bite more.

“Miss Chen, your injuries are severe, please go down and heal…”

Before Zhao Yi could finish, he saw Chen Xi-Yuan raise her left hand and painstakingly push her body to get a better angle to admire Liu Yu-Mei.

Well, no way.

Not only was she conscious, but her hand could still barely move, which meant she was perfectly capable of disconnecting herself.

If he were to brazenly disconnect her, it would be a complete falling out and an enmity, a truly clumsy move.

Alas, he shouldn’t have thought her so foolish. Since she could return earlier than him, she must also have her eyes on this big piece of meat.

Chen Xi-Yuan didn’t know what Zhao Yi was thinking; she was only focused on Liu Yu-Mei, her grandfather’s youthful dream lover.

She finally understood why her grandfather had been so obsessed with Madam Liu.

She was, truly, so beautiful.

Not only was her appearance flawless, almost without any imperfections, but what was most enchanting was the strong confidence that emanated from within her, simply by standing there.

Grandfather once sighed that when Grand Duke Qin pursued Miss Liu back then, he truly put in immense effort. Not to mention anything else, just the act of stuffing countless young talents from aristocratic families into sacks and throwing them into outhouses caused considerable pressure even for the powerful Qin family of that era.

But Miss Liu truly owed him nothing. After deciding to get engaged to him, she gave up lighting lanterns and *zou jiang*.

For this, the Liu family was extremely displeased at the time. No matter how lavish the betrothal gifts the Qin family offered, they could not make up for such a loss!

Finally, Grand Duke Qin personally went to the Liu family, swearing an oath before the Liu family ancestral shrine that should he achieve the position of Dragon King in the future, he would weather all storms with the Liu family, place Qin and Liu families equally, and share life and death!

On that day, it is said that the spirits of previous Liu family Dragon Kings manifested in the Liu ancestral shrine. Liu Qing-Cheng’s Dragon King spirit, even more like a sharp blade, shaved clean the beard of the contemporary Liu family’s senior elder.

So, sometimes, ancestors manifesting and “speaking” is not always a good thing.

When even the ancestors, who almost all had blood feuds with the Qin family, recognized Grand Duke Qin as their son-in-law, the living Liu family members present truly had no way to refuse or obstruct.

This beautiful story was widely circulated in the jianghu at the time.

However, upon closer examination, there was actually a blind spot: didn’t the Liu family members understand the temperament and magnanimity of a Dragon King?

If this matter were brought before the ancestors, weighed directly, without even looking at the scale, one would know how much it mattered.

How could they not try to intercept Grand Duke Qin from going to the Liu family ancestral shrine? And was the Liu family ancestral home so easy to trespass? The ancestral shrine was even more crucial to a family, so how could it be so easy to enter?

But Grand Duke Qin did enter, which indicates that someone helped him. Those who helped were naturally Miss Liu and a group of young supporters from the Liu family.

Fortunately, Grand Duke Qin fulfilled his oath back then.

Unfortunately, Grand Duke Qin fulfilled the entire oath.

However, that tragic calamity, which involved the simultaneous decline of both the Qin and Liu families, was not because Grand Duke Qin kidnapped the Liu family, but because the Liu family actively chose to follow and participate.

Perhaps feeling stared at for too long, Liu Yu-Mei also fixed her gaze on Chen Xi-Yuan.

After a glance, Liu Yu-Mei’s gaze moved upwards, as if looking at something non-existent above Chen Xi-Yuan’s head.

Liu Yu-Mei: “Favored by the Way of Heaven, the Chen family is fortunate. Has another ferocious villain emerged in this generation of the jianghu?”

Chen Xi-Yuan blinked.

Liu Yu-Mei smiled.

This girl is quite like that lass, always chattering and begging me to help her create opportunities for that Young Master Chen.

It seems the lass misjudged. Since the Chen family has produced such a person in this generation, what future could Young Master Chen possibly have? He probably won’t even be able to maintain his family status. If the lass marries him, she likely won’t even get the position of future mistress.

Instead, young men in this world should seriously consider that the Chen family would surely not be willing to let this girl go. Whichever man can catch her eye and marry into the Chen family would be incredibly lucky, a step straight to heaven.

At this moment, Uncle Qin and *it* had already exchanged ten more rounds.

During these ten rounds, Uncle Qin had not been able to repel *it* again; instead, they had maintained an even match.

“Since when do Qin family members become less effective the more they fight?”

Liu Yu-Mei first scanned her surroundings, then gazed at the distant wave of turtles.

She understood.

As expected of the Qin family, indeed uncouth martial artists.

He was afraid of exerting too much force and damaging this environment, allowing *it* to escape.

However, as these turtles covered more and more of this area, *its* control over it grew stronger, effectively making *it* closer to becoming the ruler of this environment.

If this continued, not only would the Qin family’s best tactic—building momentum through combat—be unusable, but *it* would also gradually establish dominance by leveraging the home advantage.

“You may gradually let loose in battle, do not hold back. With me here, the sky will not fall!”

Qin Li nodded heavily, and the black shadows on his back collectively surged throughout his body, like ancient patterns branded onto his person.

He unleashed a punch, no longer suppressing the momentum he had accumulated.

“Boom!”

This punch directly sent *it* flying.

This scene was a perfect replica of *it* casually batting away Chen Xi-Yuan and the others earlier.

But because of this, an invisible “kacha” cracking sound emanated, indicating that this environment was already in an overloaded state due to such force.

Liu Yu-Mei was somewhat surprised. One surprise was that this Qin fellow was so obedient to her.

Whatever she asked him to do, he would execute it immediately without hesitation.

It seems that annoying fellow must have been spreading rumors at home that she was his future Young Madam Qin, and these Qin people all took it seriously, treating her as the Young Madam.

The second surprise was that this environment was much more resilient than she had imagined. Despite such force, no obvious cracks had appeared yet.

Liu Yu-Mei couldn’t precisely define how this environment should be categorized.

“It resembles a barrier, yet also a formation, an illusion, and a mental construct… countless elements are interwoven, each handled with top-tier mastery, and the effects are surprisingly harmonious and stable.

I actually detected traces of my Liu family’s ‘wang qi’ here.

Which master, pray tell, laid this formation to exorcise evil?

Never mind, no matter who is slaying demons and vanquishing evil, since we Liu family members have encountered it, there is no reason not to lend a helping hand!”

Liu Yu-Mei pointed her finger at the gradually approaching wave of turtles ahead, then turned to look at Liu Ting standing behind her:

“You go, clear away those turtles. First, indirectly weaken its home advantage, then catch one for me to examine.”

“Yes! Head Young Miss.”

Aunt Liu leaped out, and before landing, she was enveloped by the surrounding red shadows. Then, with extreme speed, she actively charged into the terrifying wave of turtles.

A smash, a crash, followed by a sweep.

Innumerable gu shadows diffused, continuously devouring the surrounding turtles, then rapidly expanding like a raging wildfire.

Even if those turtles tried frantically to retaliate, they could never get close to her, and she kept pushing them back and dissolving them.

In Li Zhui-Yuan’s eyes, the “volcanic eruption” symbolizing despair was, for Aunt Liu, a most exhilarating and unrestrained display.

Liu Yu-Mei frowned slightly. She recognized that Liu Ting was using the Gu technique developed by the Liu family by incorporating Feng Shui into their cultivation.

However, this branch was considered a minor path within the Liu family’s heritage.

“Just how narrow-minded is she to take such a perverse path and practice it so well? The better she is at it, the more it shows her narrow disposition, and her fondness for cruelty and malice.

After this matter is settled, I must go back and thoroughly investigate which elder from which branch raised such a person. It’s likely that elder’s character isn’t exemplary either.”

Zhao Yi had already moved all the severely injured and unconscious people to the dam, placing them behind Liu Yu-Mei, where it was absolutely safe.

Liu Yu-Mei glanced at him, asking curiously:

“This fur coat is quite unique. Whose child are you?”

Zhao Yi immediately knelt: “Reporting to Young Miss, this junior’s surname is Zhao, from Jiu Jiang.”

Liu Yu-Mei retracted her gaze, her voice also growing cool: “Heh, Jiu Jiang Zhao clan.”

Some rumors, even in that era, had already spread, confined, of course, to the true upper echelons of the jianghu.

While not knowing the specific details of what treacherous acts the Zhao family was committing against their teachers and ancestors, it was clear that there were problems within the Zhao family.

Zhao Yi: “Young Miss misunderstands, I am not of the Jiu Jiang Zhao clan. This junior and the Jiu Jiang Zhao clan… are sworn enemies!”

Liu Yu-Mei smiled upon hearing this: “What, do you intend to uphold righteousness and destroy your own kin?”

Zhao Yi: “If it is tainted, why fear wiping it away? Not confronting history is true subservience!”

Zhao Yi spoke these words with genuine righteousness, for he truly acted accordingly.

Liu Yu-Mei nodded slightly: “Indeed, there’s a certain spirit about you. But you say you’re not subservient, yet your knees are so quick to bend before me.”

Zhao Yi looked at the indentation still clearly visible on the concrete dam.

Damn it, Li, did you really need to make this “world” so exquisitely detailed?

Zhao Yi: “I don’t know why, but my knees suddenly itch, and I want to rub them on the ground.”

Talking about falling for her was seeking death. Reminding her of her current state would be an even more thorough death. Even if he were eloquent now, he could only play the fool.

On the other side, as Aunt Liu ruthlessly slaughtered the turtles, she didn’t forget to bind one with a python and quickly slither back.

Liu Yu-Mei ignored Zhao Yi for a moment, reaching out to grab the small turtle in her hand.

The next moment, Liu Yu-Mei’s eyes narrowed:

“It’s really it?”

She had vaguely guessed its identity earlier when looking at the turtle wave, but it felt incredibly absurd. How could such an entity suddenly appear here?

Or perhaps, her true body was currently at sea?

But regardless, it shouldn’t be confined here.

Moreover, its strength couldn’t be this weak; this was an entity from myths and legends.

However, the small turtle in her hand had indeed confirmed its identity—it truly came from the East Sea!

Liu Yu-Mei spread her hand, the sword box in the East House opened, and a long sword flew into her grasp.

In reality, in front of the mourning hall, the sword box that Aunt Liu had been holding opened, and a long sword flew into Liu Yu-Mei’s hand by itself.

Young Miss Liu held the sword horizontally before her. After the cold light passed over her eyes, she focused her gaze once more.

In an instant, the young Young Miss Liu’s face showed excitement.

It was it, and, for unknown reasons, it was indeed much, much weaker!

When it was powerful enough, it was an ancient existence with a long history;

When it was no longer so powerful, it was an evil entity that everyone could punish!

At its peak, even the Dragon King’s court would maintain a state of non-interference with it. Liu Yu-Mei did not believe that her current self could shake it.

Unless it went mad and caused a natural disaster, Liu Yu-Mei did not believe she would be so foolish as to actively seek trouble with it.

But at present, this was indeed a rare opportunity!

Even if one couldn’t truly kill it, even just defeating it, no, repelling it, would be enough to make one famous in the jianghu. A hundred years later, your name would also enter legend.

Liu Yu-Mei raised the sword in her hand, preparing to use the art of Feng Shui to stabilize the environment here, so that the Qin fellow could unleash more of his strength and completely shatter *it*.

But just then, A-Li on the second-floor balcony reached out and pointed ahead, at *it* being unilaterally pummeled by Uncle Qin.

Liu Yu-Mei cared deeply for this younger sister.

Although this sister seemed unable to speak, this only made Young Miss Liu more compassionate.

Is younger sister trying to warn me, older sister?

Liu Yu-Mei didn’t rush to consolidate the surrounding environment. Instead, she retracted her long sword and held it vertically between her eyes.

Feng Shui energies flowed through her gaze.

This time, Liu Yu-Mei observed more meticulously, and her expression immediately turned serious.

It was indeed weak to a degree that should have been impossible for it, but it was still concealing most of its strength.

But at this moment, she really couldn’t think of a reason for it to do so.

The only plausible explanation was that it, even more than that Qin fellow, did not want to break this environment, preferring to be beaten rather than let this place be destroyed.

This meant that if she were to consolidate this environment now, that Qin fellow would need to continue building momentum, but *it* would have the chance to rapidly improve, even breaking through all obstacles in one fell swoop.

What on earth was *it* doing?

A-Li could see the problem because she had seen too many evil spirits for too long. She could sense that *it* had not entered the usual hysteria of evil spirits.

In fact, the big turtle was also caught between a rock and a hard place now.

It should have smoothly broken through the obstacles, found the boy hiding behind the house, and killed him, but now it was hindered by the appearance of these three people.

It did indeed hide most of its strength. Its power, even if weakened layer by layer, would not be reduced to just this.

But it feared more than Uncle Qin that this environment could not withstand their confrontation.

Because the boy in reality was already “dead.”

From its third eye’s perspective, it could not re-lock onto a dead person in reality.

In other words, if it didn’t seize the opportunity here, once this environment broke, its *jiang shui* landing, for which it had paid such a huge price, would be in vain.

The corner of its eye had been fixed on the “young woman” on the dam ahead; it strongly hoped she would step in to stabilize the place.

But this “young woman” stopped the action she was about to take.

Behind the house, in the dojo.

“Puchi!”

Li Zhui-Yuan opened a can of Jian Li Bao.

Yes, that’s right, he actually always had simpler ways to evade this wave, especially knowing the time limit. As long as he could feign death, as he was doing now, that large turtle would most likely not find him.

But the boy did not choose to do so. Since the big turtle dared to come once, it might come a second time. One cannot assess how much foundation an existence that has survived for so many years possesses.

Furthermore, simply fleeing was not Li Zhui-Yuan’s style. He was always the kind of person who would fight back, no matter how disadvantaged the conditions, even if he had to create an opportunity by force.

The only way to prevent the big turtle from landing a second time was to make it feel the pain this time!

However, some things can be deduced and planned, while others cannot.

For instance, what exactly was happening outside, how such a high-stakes duel would proceed—Li Zhui-Yuan currently lacked sufficient information and experience to know.

At this moment, he was just an ordinary person. The dojo isolated his aura, and it also isolated his perception of the outside world.

Li Zhui-Yuan took a sip of the drink.

Then, his expression froze.

He knew that drinking Jian Li Bao here wouldn’t even provide sugar, only a taste experience. But because his “world” was severely eroded by the big turtle, the operating logic had become chaotic.

This Jian Li Bao tasted like soy milk mixed with cattle bile soup with ground *zhe’ergen* juice.

Li Zhui-Yuan still swallowed the mouthful.

The boy’s gaze fell on the copper clepsydra in the dojo.

He wasn’t calculating how long until twelve hours passed and he would be safe; rather, he was calculating how much time their side had left against that big turtle.

“Li Lan, your alimony is gone;

And, after this wave, I’m coming for you.”

Outside on the dam.

Young Miss Liu, who saw through the facade, her hesitation and doubt did not last long.

She first splayed her left hand, then held her sword in her right, piercing her own left palm.

The sword body vibrated, blood seeped out, and a bloody mist was released from Young Miss Liu’s palm, enveloping Qin Li.

Since it was confirmed that this big turtle feared breaking this place, there was no need for her to reinforce it. All she had to do was individually dissipate the force fluctuations emitted by that Qin fellow when he made his move.

This way, the big turtle would continue to be apprehensive, fearing to unleash its full power, while that Qin fellow could continue to boldly increase his strength.

Such a method was like building a grand temple in a snail’s shell.

Qin Li immediately noticed the changes around him. He looked back at his madam on the dam.

Madam: “I’ve got your back, you just let loose and fight. Shatter its turtle shell as fast as you can for me!”

Qin Li nodded.

Since his Madam had spoken, he had no more reservations.

One of the black runes on his body flew out.

Qin Li’s aura immediately intensified by one layer.

A second black rune flew out from his body.

Qin Li’s aura intensified by another layer.

Next, the third, then the fourth flew out…

Zhao Yi was astonished to discover that the dam beneath his feet, with Young Miss Liu at its center, was cracking outwards at an astonishing speed, extending all the way into the surrounding rice fields.

And Young Miss Liu’s body was uncontrollably trembling continuously.

All the power overflow currently caused by Qin Li was being absorbed by Liu Yu-Mei. But even though Liu Yu-Mei could distribute and dissipate these burdens in her own way, she realized that she had consistently underestimated this Qin fellow!

Young Miss realized she had spoken too soon, and perhaps a bit too grandly.

It wasn’t just the big turtle that had been meticulously hiding its strength; this Qin fellow had also been fighting with heavy shackles on.

Wasn’t he just a Qin family errand boy sent by that thick-skinned fellow?

The aura of power he was now exhibiting almost qualified him for the Qin family’s elder sequence, and compared to an elder, he was so young!

How could that fellow possibly command such a person?

Had this person not *zou jiang* before?

If he had, why had she never heard of it? If not, then didn’t he coincide with that fellow in the same era?

Although by *zou jiang* age, he was on the older side and couldn’t receive the full *zou jiang* merit, simply based on his current strength and the characteristics of a Qin family member, how many young prodigies on the river could withstand his relentless punches?

Which elder of the Qin family, after all, had nurtured such a prodigy!

At this moment, even its eyes no longer glanced around; instead, they were fixed entirely on the man before it.

Because even though its current strength was far from its true power, this man, even in reality, was qualified to go to the East Sea and try his luck to meet it!

In this situation, the big turtle, for the first time, wavered in its certainty of success for this wave.

If it were to also release its strength, there would be no need to even fight; this environment would simply shatter into countless fragments, making it impossible to find.

That boy could hide in a fragment, most likely dying, yet there would still be a tiny probability of eventual revival.

It knew that the person who could kill it in the future would not die so easily.

Its previous intention was to achieve complete control over this place with the turtle tide, so that the boy would have no chance to hide. Only by personally watching and killing such a person before its eyes could it be at ease.

But now, if the man before it could further elevate his strength, reaching a level where he could certainly meet it in the East Sea;

Then, for it, a deadlock had already appeared.

To continue playing would only make it pay a greater price. It would be better to save these resources for a second landing.

Since this boy was on the river, it still had a chance to come ashore and kill him again.

Next time, these tactics would be useless against it.

And even this time, it was merely that its eyes had opened completely a short while later, and when they finally did open, it wasn’t right next to the boy.

As one after another of the previously sealed *gong jiao* (centipede-dragon) transformations were drawn from his body, Uncle Qin could not suppress the long-lost pleasure of returning power. At the same time, scenes from when he was besieged and ultimately forced to break through, lighting a lamp in surrender, gradually surfaced in his mind.

That night, the mistress sat outside with a sword, silently warning all onlookers.

Inside the house, by his side, stood A-Ting, heartbroken and sobbing.

Dragging his battered body, he personally lit that lamp. When it illuminated, it lit up the entire house, but uniquely bypassed his eyes.

Admitting defeat and failing not only meant losing that spirit, but also became his current inner demon.

Even after so many years, when he reactivated that past power, the inner demon also resurfaced.

He thought he could face it calmly, but in actual practice, what he first retrieved was his own utterly pathetic self, fleeing home on that rainy night.

He clutched the last *gong jiao* in his hand, daring not to draw it, and unable to.

But only by drawing this last one could he unleash his strongest power.

Completely unleashed, even stronger than his past self.

Yet, the chasm in his heart still lay before him. His hand trembled, and his gaze wavered.

He turned his head to look at his Madam, standing on the dam behind him.

Young Miss Liu had already sensed it. The aura that this Qin fellow was now exuding, and the pressure it exerted on this environment, was becoming somewhat unbearable for her. But even more terrifying fluctuations and greater pressure were still yet to come!

Her eyes fixed on the last seal clutched in the Qin fellow’s hand.

Mainly, Liu Yu-Mei’s current operation was somewhat like using an embroidery needle to prop up granite. Each time Qin Li’s strength escalated by a level, it manifested as an even more exaggerated surge in difficulty for her.

Furthermore, Grandma Liu, fearing she wasn’t young enough to see through Xiao Yuan’s painstaking plan, had set her age too far back when tracing time with the secret art, all for the sake of stability.

In truth, her strongest period was in her middle age, or even slightly beyond, when her experience and awareness reached their peak and her body had not yet begun to decline.

At this moment, Young Miss Liu’s strength still seemed somewhat immature.

But Young Miss’s temper was indeed at its peak.

She had spoken too boldly, but it didn’t matter. For the sake of her own face, she had to keep up the pretense!

Liu Yu-Mei nodded to Qin Li, giving him an affirming look.

But this gaze did not give Qin Li further resolve, for he too, under his mistress’s same gaze, had lit the lamp and embarked on *zou jiang*, representing both the Qin and Liu families.

He had once disappointed his mistress. His failure extinguished the possibility of the two Dragon King lineages reviving in her heart.

That Uncle Qin, who farmed and delivered goods, was not merely a disguise; he had never dared to tell his mistress and A-Ting that he quite liked this work and even this life.

This idyllic life allowed him ample excuse to hide himself, and even to forget the figure who once walked on the river.

On the dam, Zhao Yi’s Life-and-Death Gate was operating. He was most skilled at discerning human hearts, and thus, he saw Uncle Qin’s deep hesitation and wavering.

In terms of truly high-level combat ability, Zhao Yi, like Li Zhui-Yuan, had not reached that tier, and thus his understanding would be lacking.

He didn’t know the specific details of the current situation. Due to his psychological shadow from Madam Liu, he also hadn’t anticipated that Young Miss Liu was already struggling immensely.

Zhao Yi currently only had one thought in his heart: an urgent hope that their high-level combat power could advance further, to completely reverse the situation so that immense merit would flow to him.

He remembered when he entered the mourning hall, those three paper effigies: brewed tea in front of Madam Liu, melon seeds on Aunt Liu’s tray, and at Uncle Qin’s feet, a…

He believed that Li would never do anything without reason; every arrangement had a profound meaning.

The next moment,

Zhao Yi sighed softly, looking at the ground,

Slowly he said:

“Before Xiao Yuan closed his eyes, he kept staring at that soy sauce bottle.”