Qing'an lifted the wine jar, tilting it downwards, allowing the wine to flow onto the peach-scented black skin book.
Green flames ignited and quickly reduced the book to ashes.
He threw his head back, pouring the remaining wine down his throat. When there was nothing left inside, he casually tossed the jar aside, and with a "crack," it shattered on the ground.
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, his steps slightly unsteady, and his gaze reflected a sense of blissful bewilderment.
Life is like a dream. Before sealing himself here, he followed Wei Zhengdao, experiencing the highest peak in his heart.
Now, as he approaches complete dissolution, he can once again revisit the familiarity of those years by sheer coincidence.
As if the long agony and torment in between also presented some sort of reality.
The young man before him had a strong shadow of Wei Zhengdao on him, yet he was not Wei Zhengdao.
As for Zhao Yi...
He seemed to, but didn't bother engaging because this was just a repeat of himself, which was uninteresting and lacked appeal.
However, if he seemed like him but wasn't, that would be interesting; because while having a sense of identification, new expectations would be born.
"No wonder that kid couldn't wait to leave; turns out, he wanted to avoid me."
Li Zhiyuan: "He still misunderstands you a bit."
"You tell me the truth, did you not remind him?"
Li Zhiyuan: "With your experience regarding that Black Skin Book, honestly, is reminding anyone really useful?"
"Indeed."
The Black Book Secret Technique was the most mysterious and equally domineering secret technique Li Zhiyuan had ever encountered.
Moreover, it could be used as a foundation to integrate with other skills.
The most practical skills Li Zhiyuan currently mastered were all based on the logic from that Black Skin Book.
Logically, such a secret technique shouldn't exist; nobody would even study or create it.
Because it has major flaws, one might even consider it as a flaw itself!
Practicing it means self-punishment, self-consumption, self-loss, eventually leading to a life worse than death; even Evil Cultivators dare not be this extreme and resolute.
The person before them is the best proof of that.
If Zhao Yi really opened that book and learned the secret techniques within, he wouldn't restrain from using it. The sense of controlling "living consciousness" is irresistible.
If he really learned it, Li Zhiyuan would have to keep renewing the lease on this peach forest for Zhao Yi's future residence.
If he learned quickly and used it a lot, maybe Qing'an wouldn't have left by the time he moved in, and the two could keep each other company for a while.
This secret technique was created by Wei Zhengdao for himself, because its flaws couldn't affect itโafter all, he didn't even have that thing to be affected.
Qing'an spoke again: "That kid, his nature and talent are extraordinary. In other times, I'd see him as a Dragon King Seed.
Unfortunately, he belongs to your generation."
Li Zhiyuan: "I can't be blamed for everything. I believe every generation competing for the Dragon King has its own regrets."
"You, are different; you don't need to be modest about it.
I've seen how he used to roam the Jiang, you and people like him are the tragedy of your era's competitors, no matter which era you were born in.
Sadly, because he had been here, your path is tougher.
You truly have a greater possibility of dying.
And Zhao Yi,
This little guy,
Truly has the chance to rise after your death.
He sees this very clearly."
Li Zhiyuan: "Seems like you're happy about it."
"Hmm, I am happy."
"Then the medicine garden."
"I can look after it for a few days."
"Thanks, I'll try hard to dig out some more news about Wei Zhengdao for you."
"Hopefully, you can find his real grave for me."
"I'd like to find his grave too, but not for you."
Li Zhiyuan turned around, walked out of the peach forest, and organized the hoe and shovel, resting them on his shoulder.
These tools, mismatched to his physique, were held steadily, without the slightest shake.
The baby cradle was placed in the yard, swaying in the evening breeze. Beng Beng clung to the rails; he could now walk around them.
He moved from the south side to the north side, and back from north to south.
As for east and west, he didn't go, purposely not looking that way, because Alii sat to his west.
A child's intuition was strong; he sensed not only did the big brother dislike him, but this sister also disliked children.
Various antics that could amuse people of all ages, even the dead, were useless against these two.
The more you try, the more they are repelled by you.
Alii stood up with a basket of small tools, walked down the yard, and held Li Zhiyuan's hand.
With the sunset hues not yet fully dissolved over the horizon, the two held hands and returned home under the urgency of eager stars.
Upon return, Li Sanjiang and Old Tian had already drunk too much.
Li Zhiyuan was long used to this.
Every time the Grandmaster met old friends, he'd drink until he was plastered.
But Old Tian...he indeed drank too much, not pretending.
With two needles in the back of his neck to suppress his body's rejection of alcohol, he earnestly wanted to drink to oblivion with the Grandmaster.
"Little Yuanhou, you're back... hic!"
Li Sanjiang just raised his hand and hiccupped.
Old Tian mimicked Li Sanjiang, also raising his hand to Li Zhiyuan: "Come, children, come to Grandpa here. Grandpa will give you money to buy candy."
Li Zhiyuan smiled as he watched Old Tian.
Old Tian let out a "hic" and hiccupped too, his expression immediately changing, instantly sobered by the young man's smile.
