novelraw Chapter 53: The Scholars Invite Lord Chang the Eighth at Night
Chapter 53: The Scholars Invite Lord Chang the Eighth at Night
The old shopkeeper had his own methods of conducting himself. He personally handed the twenty taels of silver to Li Qiuchen and said seriously, "Brother Chu, if you hadn't acted this time, the old master probably wouldn't have survived this ordeal. Everyone in the Zhao family is endlessly grateful to you. Originally, the first madam wanted to come toast you, but I saw her crying face was too inauspicious, so I didn't let her come."
"You've also seen the household's situation, chaotic and improper. Later, come to my place and I'll make proper arrangements for you again."
"You're too kind."
Li Qiuchen smiled, "I can only say the Zhao family has deep fortune and virtue, and the old master's life was not meant to end. If I hadn't gone to your place today, I definitely wouldn't have followed you here. If the old master had truly been possessed by demons, I might not have had a solution. If you ask me, rather than thanking me, you should quickly go burn incense for the City God and Earth God. Who knows when your family accumulated this hidden virtue that just happened to be used today."
"Right, right, right! Brother Chu, what you say truly makes sense."
Thinking back on it, the old shopkeeper also felt a wave of lingering fear. How could there be such a coincidence in the world? There must have been divine intervention behind this.
The divine had their incense offerings, mortals also had to have their benefits.
The two didn't conflict. Thanks still needed to be given.
Li Qiuchen thought to himself it really might not be a coincidence.
Who would feed your family's old master immortal pills for no reason when they're stuffed full?What he swallowed was an immortal pill, but what did he spit out?
He was very interested in the secret behind this.
The premise of his interest was that this Zhao family matter didn't exceed his own capabilities.
Li Qiuchen only wanted to bully weaklings.
If he discovered afterwards that there were traces of Foundation Establishment stage cultivator manipulation behind this matter, he would definitely run as far away as possible but it wasn't very likely.
Because this place called Blue Stone Platform had already been combed through thoroughly by some archery-loving guy who had dug three feet into the ground.
As they say, those who understand you best in this world are your enemies.
No one understood better than Li Qiuchen just how terrifying that bastard's obsession was. He himself had done nothing, only hidden outside Blue Stone Platform to watch the excitement from afar, yet was chased for hundreds of li, nearly running his pants open at the seams.
Facts proved his speculation wasn't wrong. This Blue Stone Platform had been scraped cleaner by that person than a plate licked by a dog.
This environment was very comfortable for Li Qiuchen.
They say people can't always live in their comfort zone.
Understanding this statement in reverse, you can completely leave most of your time in your comfort zone.
If you've never bullied weaklings, how can you know how happy bullying weaklings can be?
Taking the silver and leaving the Zhao household, Hu Hai'er burped while doubting life.
"Xiaohe, you're too awesome! Did you practice martial arts? The old Zhao master was like that, yet you could still pin him down."
"You're making a fuss over nothing."
Li Qiuchen chuckled, "Have you ever seen a blind bear that stands over a zhang tall and can slap a large tree in half with one paw?"
"Never seen one."
I haven't seen one either, but that doesn't stop me from bragging to you.
"There are plenty of scary things in the mountains. Do you think I'd dare carry this much money in my pockets without some skills?"
Li Qiuchen proudly puffed out his chest, "I'm not bragging, but don't look at how small I am. You and your dad together couldn't get near me!"
"That's for sure. My dad doesn't know shit."
Hu Hai'er had made money today and seen the world. He had no doubt about Li Qiuchen's bragging.
"Kiddo, let me tell you, about us going to the Zhao family feast today, don't tell anyone when you get back."
"Why not?"
"You know about not flaunting wealth, right?"
"I know! My dad says that."
"Keep a low profile."
"Okay!"
Returning to the cart inn, Hu Hai'er unsurprisingly got beaten by his dad for running off all day without a trace.
Li Qiuchen joined the gambling as he had yesterday, played for over half an hour, lost a dozen copper coins back and forth, and laid down to sleep with an unchanged expression.
He had just closed his eyes for a short while when he heard someone calling softly by his ear.
"Chu Xiaohe, Chu Xiaohe..."
Li Qiuchen sat up and saw two young scholars standing before him. He thought to himself, as expected, it's you two.
In Blue Stone Platform today, only these two looked rather improper.
How to put it? Feeding immortal pills to old Master Zhao, ordinary bad people really couldn't pull off such a thing.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?"
The white-robed scholar standing on the left smiled, "Don't be afraid. We're not bad people. We're looking for you to ask for help. There will be benefits for you afterwards."
I know you're not bad people, but I am.
No wait, how can I say that about myself? I'm not either!
Li Qiuchen didn't say much more and followed these two away from the cart inn to the town's inn.
He had just sat down when those two brought the dazed and confused Liu Po over.
"Auntie Liu, please trouble you to invite that immortal family out. We want to meet him."
"Huh?"
Liu Po was muddled and bewildered, "What immortal family?"
"The one you invited this morning."
"I don't know them."
The two scholars looked at each other.
So you yourself don't even know who you invited?
The white-robed scholar exchanged a glance with his companion and spoke to comfort her, "Then I'll invite them. Auntie, you don't need to do anything, just close your eyes."
After settling Liu Po down, he pulled out from behind him an antique-styled leather drum with copper coins tied to the back and gently shook it.
Accompanied by the swishing sound of the copper coins, the atmosphere in the air seemed to undergo a subtle change.
The lamplight flickered, ghostly winds blew in waves. Liu Po, who had tightly closed her eyes, suddenly opened them. A pair of snake pupils looked toward the two people before her.
The immortal family had arrived.
The immortal family took one look...
"Don't leave!"
The black-robed scholar beside them had quick eyes and hands. He stepped forward and grabbed Liu Po's arm, pulling a semi-transparent phantom from her body.
"What are you doing?"
The phantom transformed into a thin-faced man wearing fine clothes. With a panicked expression, he tried to break free from the scholar's hand, "What are you pulling and tugging at? Let me go!"
"Immortal sir, don't panic. We mean no harm!"
"First let go of your hand!"
"Listen to me..."
"Let go!"
The black-robed scholar released his hand. The thin-faced man quickly jumped aside, looking at the two with suspicion and uncertainty, "What do you two want?"
"Lord Chang the Eighth?"
"Yes?"
The white-robed scholar cupped his hands and smiled, "Students Wang Su and Du Qian greet Lord Chang the Eighth. Last night when we two went to pay respects to the Earth God, we heard your name from him."
Hearing that they learned his name from the Earth God, the wariness on Lord Chang the Eighth's face eased somewhat. He frowned, "Students from the county academy? I've never met you two. What do you want with me? If you're asking about those Medicine Master remnants, I'm not one of them and don't know anything."
Wang Su shook his head, "We two came here on our teacher's orders to complete an assignment. There are some difficulties, and we want to ask local people for help."
"What do you want to do?"
"Some time ago, evil people caused chaos in Blue Stone Platform and were later suppressed by the garrison troops. We two have come here to create an illusory realm to provide a place for tempering the hearts of county academy students."
"What?"
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