Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 91 Meeting the Yu Family at Foundation Establishment (Part 2)
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in an uproar, and countless eyes turned to look in their direction.

The expressions are different.

Chen Li's lips twitched.

He bowed to those around him.

He secretly groaned inwardly, thinking he could avoid this ordeal, but in the end, he couldn't escape it.

This bitch...

He took a deep breath.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, please lead the way."

Yu Fanzhen seemed oblivious, and said happily, "Fellow Daoist Chen, come with me quickly."

After expansion and renovation, the Yu family mansion had a deep courtyard and covered a vast area. Upon entering the inner part, it was as if he had broken through some kind of barrier. He immediately felt the difference; the spiritual energy here was rich and the warmth was like spring.

While the flowers, grasses, and trees outside have long since withered, this place is lush and green, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.

What a blessed place for cultivation!
Chen Li, who had never seen much of the world, was secretly astonished.

Clearly, there is a formation set up here.

After being informed by someone.

Soon, Chen Li successfully met the patriarch of the Yu family.

The only Foundation Establishment expert in Green River Village.

They greeted each other with the courtesy due to juniors, exchanged pleasantries, and then took their seats as host and guest.

“Although I have been staying at home, I have often heard of your name, Fellow Daoist. You are truly an outstanding person. Therefore, when the war ended and my family wanted to move back to the mainland, I immediately thought of you and wanted to invite you to travel with me so that we could look after each other,” Yu Cheng said with a smile, showing his high regard for Chen Li.

"I dare not address you as a senior fellow Daoist," Chen Li quickly replied. "A mere empty title would be a laughing stock. I came here on a whim to join the nobles' entourage and leave this place. It would be my pleasure to travel with you, senior."

“Fellow Daoist is too modest. I am old and frail, like the setting sun, while you are like the rising sun. Becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future is not a problem. Why be so concerned about the difference in our current status and cultivation?” Yu Cheng stroked his white beard and said with a smile.

Putting aside the fact that the other party was at the Foundation Establishment stage, this patriarch of the Yu family had a kind face and a good demeanor. He spoke softly and respectfully, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Chen Li quickly added a few more words of modesty.

During this time, Yu Cheng curiously inquired about the details of Chen Li's killing of the second-tier monster.

When Chen Li was facing the Foundation Establishment stage, he didn't dare to boast or exaggerate.

I told them everything in detail.

Yu Cheng showed no surprise whatsoever, as if he had expected this all along. He smiled and said, "Although it's an advantage of the terrain, it's still quite remarkable. A second-tier demonic beast with a powerful physique, even a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator... hehe!"

He changed the subject halfway through his sentence: "I wonder if Youke is married?"

"I have a wife at home," Chen Li said.

Yu Cheng looked slightly regretful, but didn't continue, letting the matter drop.

The two continued their conversation, mostly the other doing the talking while Chen Li listened attentively, occasionally offering a few words of flattery and agreement. Their conversation ranged from the differences in local customs and products in various towns and cities of the Changsheng Sect to the analysis of the recent war, and they seemed quite engrossed in their discussion.

The tea was refilled three times during the meal, until the other person showed signs of fatigue, at which point Chen Li took the opportunity to say goodbye and leave.

……

on the road.

Chen Li breathed a sigh of relief.

I felt completely relaxed.

I have to say, chatting with someone who has reached the Foundation Establishment stage is really stressful.

My whole body was tense.

It's not easy at all.

Fortunately, the result was good, and everything went smoothly.

There wasn't even a formality for the visit.

Moreover, with the Yu family's protection, the journey will be much smoother.

Looking at the dilapidated and stagnant market town, he felt no attachment, but rather a sense of joy and excitement.

"Finally, I can get out of this damned place!"

Chen Li walked quickly home.

Zhou Hong was concerned and immediately stepped forward to inquire.

"Don't worry, everything's been arranged. I even met with the Yu family patriarch. We'll set off with the team in five days," Chen Li said with a smile. "You can start preparing these next few days."

However, it seems there's not much to prepare.

The only valuable things in the house are personal belongings.

Spirit stones, magical artifacts, and talismans are all small items that don't take up much space.

The only large quantity was the nearly one ton of second-tier demon beast meat.

However, the meat of a second-tier demon beast is dense and extremely heavy, far exceeding that of ordinary meat. A ton may sound like a lot, but in reality, it only takes up about half a cubic meter of space, which is more than enough to fit into a storage bag.

"Should we invite Fellow Daoist Zhang and his family?" Zhou Hong asked.

"I'll go to his house later and ask him what he thinks. But I'll go now!" Chen thought for a moment and said.

……

Chen Li knocked on Zhang Yan's door.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, what a rare guest! Please come in, please come in!" Zhang Yan greeted him with a smile as he entered the house, and was about to call for Shuniang in the inner room to bring tea.

Before she could even speak, Zhang Shuniang had already heard the commotion and came over like a little bird, saying affectionately, "Uncle, what brings you here? I'll make you some tea right away."

This daughter.

Ugh!
We're getting closer and closer to our neighbors now.

I go there every few days.

"Thank you, Shuniang." Chen Li said to Shuniang, and after she left, he smiled and said to Zhang Yan, "Fellow Daoist, you have truly raised a good daughter. You're going to enjoy a life of luxury from now on."

Ha ha!

Zhang Yan scoffed inwardly and snorted, "It's good enough that you don't anger me."

After a brief chat, Chen Li got down to business:
"You've heard that the Yu family is leaving, right? What are your plans? I'm preparing to leave. Green River Lane isn't a place to stay for long, and as it stands, there's no hope of things getting better."

"Fellow Daoist is leaving too!" Zhang Yan exclaimed in surprise.

In fact, he has been hesitating for the past two days.

I just couldn't make up my mind.

They were worried about safety on the journey, and also afraid that going to unfamiliar places would only make their situation worse.

But then he heard that Chen Li was also leaving.

Anxiety couldn't help but creep into my heart.

He couldn't help but stand up and take two steps in place: "I do want to leave, but I've never had any dealings with the Yu family before, and I also have a daughter to hold me back."

"Don't worry about that. I've already made arrangements with the Yu family. They can come with us. As for your daughter, everyone will take care of her on the way," Chen Li said.

"Let me think about it some more... I'll give you an answer tonight."

"Then think it over carefully, I'm leaving now!" Chen Li said, standing up.

……

"Hey, Dad, where's Uncle?" Zhang Shuniang came out of the inner room after making tea and found that Uncle had already left.

“They left a long time ago!” Zhang Yan said, sighing.

"Father, why are you sighing again?" Zhang Shuniang asked.

"I'm worried. Many people are leaving. Do you think we should leave Green River Lane too?" Zhang Yan thought for a moment and said.

"Where are Uncle and his family?" Zhang Shuniang asked.

"I'm leaving too!"

“Then we should definitely follow them.” Zhang Shuniang said without hesitation, “Uncle is smart, knowledgeable, has high cultivation, and is very talented. He will definitely be a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future. Following them is definitely the right thing to do!”

Zhang Yan's face darkened upon hearing this, and he almost rolled his eyes. He said sourly, "Yes, yes, your father is far inferior to your Uncle Chen. He's not smart, has limited knowledge, low cultivation, and no talent. I think you should just stay with your uncle!"

Zhang Shuniang blushed upon hearing this and retorted in a coquettish voice, "Father, what are you saying? That's not what I meant. Why do you always compare me to Uncle? You want me to live with Uncle? How can you even say that? Uncle already has Aunt Zhou."

Zhang Yan's heart skipped a beat, and his face immediately turned even darker.

The first few sentences were somewhat reasonable, but the second half...

Is that what I meant? What are you thinking?

Moreover, the more I savor it, the less it feels right.

……

That evening.

Zhang Yan then visited them to express his willingness to accompany them.

Chen Li was not surprised at all by this.

Anyone with even a modicum of foresight would not choose to stay in this dying market town.

After Zhang Yan left, he transformed into a butcher and rushed to Zhao Lin's place to settle the final accounts.

"Brother, could we come with you? We may not be very strong or useful, but we can handle some minor issues along the way and won't cause you any trouble," Zhao Lin said.

Compared to Zhang Yan's hesitation and long deliberation, Zhao Lin was much more decisive.

Of course, this is also because he is all alone and has no burdens.

“Okay, come at dawn five days from now…” Chen thought for a moment and then gave him an address.

Chen Li is fairly satisfied with these people who have been helping him sell goods for the past six months.

He is capable, acts cautiously, and has a decent character.

Moreover, this trip is to another unfamiliar territory. We'll be in complete darkness, and who knows what we might encounter? Having a few familiar subordinates around will undoubtedly make things much easier.

"Thank you, brother!" Zhao Linqiang suppressed his joy. "I'll go and inform them later!"

……

After leaving Zhao Lin's house, Chen Li walked on the road.

In the past month, only one mid-grade magic artifact was sold. Including the income from reselling Zhang Yan's talisman, after deducting the share from Zhao Lin and others, the total income was only three mid-grade spirit stones. Business was getting worse and worse.

But there are not many ritual implements left.

Only three high-grade magic artifacts and eight mid-grade magic artifacts remain...

Halfway there, he vaguely heard the sounds of fighting.

He quickly stepped forward to take a look.

In the distance, three people were seen attacking one person, with magical artifacts whistling in the air as they fought fiercely.

In his eyes, it was just a bunch of chickens fighting each other.

A thought struck him, and he decided to step forward and help. He shouted:
"How dare you commit violence in broad daylight, in the middle of the world!"

Unfortunately, before he could even step forward...

Unable to achieve anything for a long time, the bandits, who were already in a state of panic, were so frightened by the arrival of someone to help them that they immediately fled.

This left Chen Li quite disappointed.

I should have known better than to shout that.

"Zhou Li thanks you for saving me, fellow Daoist." The besieged man came over with a grateful expression, introduced himself, bowed deeply, and solemnly expressed his thanks.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you flatter me. I just called out once; it was nothing!" Chen Li returned the greeting.

"Heh!" Zhou Li sneered, "Besides you, fellow Daoist, who else here dares to come out, even just to show off their power? If I didn't have some skills, I would have lost my life today!"

"Everyone has their own difficulties!" Chen Li said.

We cannot expect everyone to have courage.

The cost and price of courage are too high.

Even he, if he weren't highly skilled and daring, would have stayed as far away as possible.

As long as you don't do evil, you're a good person.

They chatted for a few minutes before parting ways.

……

On the way, Chen Li suddenly thought of Lin Gui.

I wonder how things are now?

In the year since he transmigrated, he hasn't met many acquaintances, and he has even fewer friends.

Lin Gui is one of them.

Since he was leaving anyway, he decided to see them one last time and say goodbye.

He still knew Lin Gui's address.

We'll just have to wait until he finds it.

They found the place deserted.

I asked the neighbors and found out that Lin Gui hadn't been seen for a while.

The neighbor was a thin, plain-looking young woman who spoke in a sharp and disdainful tone:

"It's been seven or eight days, maybe ten or so, I can't remember anymore. I guess he died out there. That old man isn't quite right in the head, he talks incoherently and is always acting crazy. Even if he didn't die out there, he probably won't live much longer... Who are you to him? He still owes me money!"

“Uh, an acquaintance,” Chen Li said. “How much does he owe you?”

"You want to pay it back for him? About twenty taels of gold, really, I'm not kidding you." The young woman's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"Two months ago, he was starving and asked me for food. I felt so sorry for him, so I gave him a big bag of wild sweet potatoes, but he still hasn't paid it back. It was a huge bag, this big!"

As she spoke, she gestured to indicate the size of the bag: "If you were to sell it at the market, tell me, would it be worth twenty taels of gold?"

Chen Li was at a loss for words, so he could only say, "It's definitely worth it!"

This is probably what life is like for a down-on-his-luck cultivator.

He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a low-grade spirit stone.

"I'll go get you some money." The young woman happily accepted the spirit stones and smiled.

“No need to look anymore!” Chen Li said.

The young woman was taken aback upon hearing this. She looked Chen Li up and down and saw that he had thick, big eyes and a handsome appearance. She couldn't help but smile charmingly and said, "You're so generous. But I'm not the kind of person who takes advantage of others. Come inside quickly, and I'll make it up to you."

With that, he turned and went inside.

Chen Li was completely confused. He listened intently for a moment but couldn't hear any breathing or other sounds from inside the house, so it didn't seem like there was an ambush.

As the saying goes, people with good skills are bold.

He followed the young woman through the door, wanting to see what kind of trouble she was up to.

The room was tidy and smelled of cosmetics.

As soon as Chen Li entered, the woman gently closed the door, then quickly pressed her soft body against him, her breath hot as she said, "Come on, I don't do this often, I have to find you pleasing to the eye first."

……

"call!"

He pushed open the door and shook his head speechlessly.

"This is so bizarre, what's going on here!"

Smelling the lingering scent of cosmetics on his body, he quickly used a cleansing talisman to remove the odor.

It wouldn't be good if Zhou Hong misunderstood.

In the end, you won't get to eat any mutton, and you'll only end up with a lot of trouble.

"Fortunately, I have a strong will!" Chen Li thought to himself.

……

In the following days, Chen Li continued to follow his routine.

They're either meditating and practicing internal energy, or grinding for proficiency in swordsmanship and magic.

During this time, Zhou Hong sewed a tent for occasional use during the migration, which quickly filled the entire storage bag to the brim.

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

On the sixth day, in the early morning.

The sky was still pitch black.

Chen Li and Zhou Hong got up early, and after they finished getting ready and having breakfast, they opened the door.

Under the pitch-black night, a group of people were already waiting outside.

(End of this chapter)