Chapter Nine, the intention of parting with a sword raised

Lu Bei changed out of his night clothes, took out the gold and silver from his bosom, glanced at it, and estimated there to be about two to three hundred taels. Lu Bei wrapped it up and murmured, "Indeed, it is the golden belt of murder and arson."

"It is you, scoundrel..." Before the words could be finished, he fell to the ground, blood gushing out from his neck in spurts.

Lu Bei understood everything upon hearing this

"Who?" Chen Qingshan said in a low voice

"These willow trees have been fine all these years, so why were they struck by lightning?" a middle-aged man said with a puzzled expression.

The Grand Princess Hong'er paused her steps and gracefully walked up to the Queen Mother, her bright eyes curiously gazing at the Queen Mother

It turned out to be just a wild cat. Hmm, no, a wild cat jumping on the roof wouldn't make such a loud noise. Chen Qingshan suddenly woke up.

Princess Hong'er took the heavy mirror frame and let out a sigh of relief, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will tidy up when I return."

"Mother, I am hungry," came the weak voice of a little girl

Chen Qingshan's face was pale as he gritted his teeth and said, "Go back"

He spoke in a deep voice at once: "Sister Li, in fact, I have a request to make. Tomorrow, I will be embarking on a long journey. This trip may last for several years, and I do not know when I will return."

Lu Bei let out a long sigh and quickly walked over to the mother and daughter, saying: "Sister Li, I heard from next door that your family is struggling to make ends meet. Well, I still have some grain at home, so I will bring some over for you."

Chen Residence

In Qinghe County, there must certainly be officials who are well-versed in criminal law. Under investigation, one would inevitably suspect oneself. If someone from Qinghe County were to come and arrest me for interrogation, given that my skills in both the way of the Dao and martial arts have not yet been perfected, surrounded by a pack of wolves, I would likely not fare well.

Lu Bei pushed open the fence, and what came into view were three unfinished houses with thatched roofs. In the courtyard, there were several vegetable beds dug out, planted with crops such as loofah, green beans, and green peppers. However, it was early autumn, and the fruits had long been harvested, leaving only a few wilted plants drooping their heads.

Lu Bei does not believe that by killing Chen Qingshan tonight, he will be free from worries in the future

"Come here..." This phrase had not yet been shouted out

The purple clay teapot fell to the ground with a "thud", shattering into four or five pieces, the tea mingling with the fragments, steaming and splattering everywhere

Tomorrow, before dawn, let's set off early

Lu Bei sighed, "Life is short and full of suffering, like morning dew. My mind is made up, Sister Li, there is no need to persuade me any further."

"I do not know what this object looks like, how should I search for it?" the Grand Princess inquired.

"Old thief, meet your end"

Chen Qingshan felt a great sense of unease. At this moment, it was early autumn, not the height of summer. Even with rain, how could there be thunder and lightning accompanying it

In the garden, on a small pavilion, wisteria vines entwine, and outside the pavilion, numerous green bamboos are planted. The autumn wind is bleak, causing the bamboo leaves to rustle.

"Master, something is wrong!" A young servant dressed in short attire rushed into the garden, shouting anxiously

With a loud crash, it seemed as if a heavy object had fallen to the ground

Suddenly, a woman's wailing came from the small courtyard next door to the Lu family, occasionally accompanied by the sobbing of a child. Lu Bei frowned, put down his chopsticks, and walked into the courtyard to listen closely

... ...

"But your family, the Lu family, has only one line of descent; how can you become a monk and pursue the path of cultivation?" Sister Li said in astonishment, unable to close her mouth.

Lu Beiming, with a look of longing, said: "I have heard that there are many practitioners of the Dao in famous mountains and great rivers, and I yearn to seek them out."

Sister Li saw that Lu Beizhi was resolute and no longer persuaded him further, but she felt a sense of regret in her heart for the young man before her, who at such a young age was destined to ascend the mountain to pursue the Dao

The mountain rain has temporarily ceased, allowing for a good night's sleep

Li Daniu's wife was momentarily perplexed upon hearing Lu Bei's words, unsure of what intentions Lu Bei was harboring

Wuwu... Daniu, you heartless one, how could you just leave like that? What are Yaya and I supposed to do?" The woman cried out, her hair disheveled.

Lu Bei received the memories of that ghostly figure last night, and naturally knows who the mastermind behind the plot to harm him is

In the room, Chen Qingshan was still filled with lingering fear, staring blankly at the double fish jade pendant before him

What I mean is that there may be no one to take care of the house. If Sister Li does not mind, she could live with Yaya at Mr. Lu's house to help me look after the small courtyard, so that it does not become desolate.

In such circumstances, Chen Qingshan arrived at the scene. Upon seeing the five large willow trees with his own eyes, his legs went weak, and the young servant beside him hurriedly stepped forward to assist him.

"Sir, the five large willow trees at the east of the village were struck by lightning and turned to charcoal in yesterday's rain," the young servant said, breathless.

The Queen Mother lightly waved her sleeve, and the Kunlun mirror frame on the dressing table lay quietly in the delicate, boneless palm of the Queen Mother.

Since I have come to this immortal world in this life, how can I not seek a method for eternal life? Even though the path to immortality is fraught with challenges at every step, I remain fearless and unrepentant

Chen Qingshan remained motionless, as if he were unaware.

A tall figure suddenly appeared in the room, dressed in black, with a hat obscuring the face, concealed in the shadows, making it difficult to discern the features and appearance.

A young man, moving closer to the old man, clearly heard these words. A cold wind blew, causing him to shiver all over, and he said: "Third Grandpa, please don't scare me"

If it is within one's capacity, one should not hesitate to extend a helping hand to some vulnerable groups

This person sheathed the sword, took advantage of the candlelight, circled around the corpse, searched the room, packed the gold and silver, and tucked them into his bosom

Lu Beichen pondered for a moment, gazing at the emaciated mother and daughter before him, and made a decision in his heart

"What is there to be hungry for? The house has long been out of food, and the land has been taken away by that Chen the skinflint. Oh dear, how are we to live like this... my mother!" It seemed she spoke and sang for a long time, the woman wept bitterly, unable to contain her sorrow

Although Li Daniu's wife is a somewhat careless village woman, she is still somewhat aware of etiquette and hurriedly spoke to dissuade him, saying: "Young man from the Lu family, it is not easy for you to live alone, how can you give us food for the two of us?"

The twenty taels of silver gifted by the Cloud Daoist have long been spent in Qinghe County, with more than half already gone. The difficulties of the journey largely stem from the expenses, but this matter is not urgent; most of the travel costs will likely fall on Chen Qingshan.

At this moment, an elderly man with a head full of white hair, leaning on a cane, approached and mumbled indistinctly, "The lightning struck the big tree; it must be that there are ghostly spirits residing within this willow tree. The heavens, unable to bear witness any longer, have intervened"

Having settled the matter, Lu Bei no longer lingered and turned to return home. Upon entering the house, he organized and packed his belongings into a long bundle. He planned to rest for a day and would leave Wuliu Village early the next morning

The sword light shines, a three-foot blade slashes out, the old face is filled with fear, a bloodline is drawn under the neck.

Chen Qingshan sat in front of the stone table under the pavilion, lifted a purple clay teapot, and took a gentle sip of the tea after the rain. On his old face, there was a serene expression, utterly content.

The Queen Mother's expression became serious as she said, "In my early years, I lost an item that fell into the mortal realm. You may secretly descend and search for it."

Village east, around five large willow trees, people stand in groups of two or three, discussing incessantly.

Chen Qingshan has been extorting the villagers, and although his methods are somewhat restrained, the villagers are not fools and are filled with resentment towards him

Lu Beixin has made up his mind, regardless of how shocking and outrageous his proposal may be to Mrs. Li.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Bei turned around and took a small bag of rice noodles from the kitchen, heading towards the door.

The mountain village is tranquil and harmonious. The crowing of a rooster awakens the slumbering Wuliu Village

Queen Mother said in a clear voice: "With this object in your possession, you can follow the flow of Qi and explore slowly."

This person holds a sword in the palm of his right hand, and under the faint starlight and the glow of the orange candlelight, the blade emits a chilling aura of death

At the moment, there was no time to tidy up the mess underfoot. He hurriedly left the house with the servants and headed east towards the village.

Meow, meow.

The triple courtyard, with its blue tiles and red walls, is exceptionally refined. The courtyard is deep, and after a night of autumn rain, several rose bushes have shed their petals, releasing a fragrant aroma.

Lu Bei's decision is actually the result of careful consideration. He comes from a time after the decline of the Dharma, and it is impossible for him to be a mediocre and complacent local landlord in this Bashu region

A small courtyard separated by a wall is the home of Mr. Li next door.

"What is wrong? When have I ever been in the wrong?" Chen Qingshan's gaunt face twitched with veins as he reprimanded the oblivious servant.

Although Lu Bei is not a saintly figure or a pure-hearted person, he is well aware of the hardships of life and the challenges of living

There were no more mistakes to be found in this person. He swung his fist into the empty space on his left, and a cold wind blew out the candle flame. He leaped over the wall and disappeared into the thick darkness in no time.

Lujia.

Late at night, the darkness is heavy, and the stars are dim.

Although the Queen Mother is aware that the eldest princess has always acted with composure, she still feels somewhat uneasy regarding the matter of the innate treasure and thus reminds her once again: "The Southern Heavenly Gate is crowded with many eyes; you may quietly descend to the mortal realm from the River of Heaven"

What? Take me to see it quickly

Sister Li asked, "Young man from the Lu family, are you planning to ... ... "