When the Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Meets the Unbeatable Protagonist | Chapter 36

"Well, I heard that merchants value both profit and trust. It makes sense that someone promised to take care of your family's old house," Lu Xiaobai said.

"But so many years have passed, and you’ve never returned here. How can you be sure they can keep it up?"

Lu Xiaobai noticed that although the old house looked worn, there were no spider webs or dust around, which indicated that someone was indeed taking care of it regularly.

Lin Ji used his spiritual power to break the lock and pushed open the door. "Let’s go in and talk."

Lu Xiaobai hesitated, "What if someone finds out and accuses us of trespassing?"

"I don’t want to do this either, but I don’t have a key," Lin Ji replied.

He used to have one, but it was left at his new home, and when he had to escape, there was no way he could take it with him.

Lu Xiaobai looked around. Aside from the overgrown flowers and plants in the yard, there was a long-lost coldness in the air, but everything else seemed fine.

The house faced south, allowing sunlight to shine in for most of the day, which suggested that the feng shui master who built it was quite reliable.

Lu Xiaobai had once accompanied his fellow disciples on a mission down the mountain, and he remembered how the wealthy families' architectural styles were ostentatious, adorned with gold and silver everywhere.

As a child, he had felt envious and curious, but after seeing more, he found such blatant displays of wealth rather tasteless.

Lin Ji's family home, however, was primarily elegant, spending money on materials and quality, with thoughtful and tasteful designs throughout.

Once inside the hall, Lu Xiaobai noticed that wealthy families still liked to show off, but instead of external displays, it was all about the interior: the window paper, the furniture, and even the carpets were rare and precious.

Lin Ji led Lu Xiaobai to sit down and was about to leave. "You sit here for a bit; I’ll be right back."

Lu Xiaobai quickly asked, "Where are you going?"

Lin Ji looked at him strangely. "To brew tea for our guest."

Lu Xiaobai was taken aback. "You don’t have to; I came with you, and I’m not an outsider."

Lin Ji insisted, "You must."

Outsiders could be treated based on the situation, but for someone who wasn’t an outsider, it was different.

It was like if his master suddenly came to visit, according to the teachings of worldly scholars, Lin Ji would have to greet him at the door, invite him in, serve tea, and show respect.

Because Meng Wanqiu was a respected elder, and it was his first time visiting.

Now, everything was simplified; Lu Xiaobai wasn’t his master... but he couldn’t treat him casually and appear uncultured, or he might be looked down upon!

After all, how to behave was his own business; he had been taught this since childhood.

After Lin Ji went to the kitchen to boil water, he took out the tea leaves he carried with him, brewed the tea, and brought it back, pouring two cups for Lu Xiaobai and himself before finally settling down.

Lu Xiaobai paused, lifting the teacup, feeling a bit embarrassed. According to etiquette, he should have brought a gift when visiting, but today he came empty-handed...

Lin Ji noticed that Lu Xiaobai kept glancing at him while drinking tea. "…What’s wrong?" Did he think he was being too particular?

Lu Xiaobai smiled and said, "I like you…"

Lin Ji's hand trembled as he almost choked on his tea.

This time, it was Lu Xiaobai who looked at him strangely, completing his sentence, "…this serious nature of yours."

No wonder he was someone who had read so many books and wanted to take the imperial examination; he was particular about things, but it made Lu Xiaobai feel valued. How could he not be happy?

How could someone who seemed so "proper" end up as a demon cultivator in his last life? Lu Xiaobai still couldn’t understand.

A pure heart was the most touching, and he naturally liked it. But why did Lin Ji have to cough and interrupt him, making him stumble over his words and realize he had said something wrong?

An awkward moment passed.

Lu Xiaobai sighed again, "This house really doesn’t look like it’s been abandoned for years."

Lin Ji quickly replied, "It’s not."

"You asked me why they could keep it up? Because even though my father left here, he could still make others willingly work for him for decades."

Lin Ji's impression of his father was already vague; in his memories, his father always mingled with different people, both for friendship and for profit.

His father was a capable man, but he was too wild, unable to stay in one place, and didn’t love home.

"In fact, my family’s ancestral home isn’t here. When my grandfather was alive, he could manage him, and he could still restrain himself. After my grandfather passed away, no one could control him anymore."

Like when they went to subdue the female ghost in that town, it had caused such a ruckus, and the townsfolk didn’t want to move; they just hoped for stability. Throughout history, leaving one’s hometown was always a reluctant choice for people.

But Lin Ji's father was rebellious and preferred to roam around everywhere. His identity as a merchant suited him well.

He was bold and dared to go anywhere, doing any business. He indeed brought an incredibly wealthy life to both branches of the family.

After experiencing two lives, Lin Ji understood that their family moved frequently, changing names each time they went to a new place, probably related to the mermaid pearl.

He didn’t know what kind of coincidences his father went through to obtain the mermaid pearl, but his father must have known it was extraordinary.

Fearing it would be snatched away, he would go to great lengths to confuse others.

When a person possesses a treasure but lacks the ability to keep it, it becomes a crime to have it. But letting it go was absolutely impossible.

The misfortunes of the Lin family seemed destined, so Lin Ji was unwilling to comment too much on this matter now.

"Since we’re passing through Yunzhou this time, I thought I’d come back and stay for a few days."

"I still remember my father’s friends here, but they don’t know about my family’s connection to the Lin family."

"Tomorrow, I’ll go find him to reveal my identity and ask him to help me transfer the house to someone else, or directly sell it to him at a discount, and I’ll take the money in gold and silver. Then, I’ll ask him to pay respects to my deceased relatives every year."

"If people are gone, what’s the use of keeping an empty house?"

Originally, Lin Ji didn’t want to come back, but after Lu Xiaobai reminded him about the memorial, he felt he still had to ask someone to burn some paper during the holidays, at least to fulfill his familial duties.

Plus, wasn’t Lu Xiaobai a money lover? Bringing him back to stay in the big house for a few days, he could conveniently take some money with him... In the future, when he stepped into the mortal world, he would need money to get by.

Sure enough, Lu Xiaobai’s eyes lit up, and he feigned restraint, saying, "So, you’ll have a large sum of money in your pocket."

A Ji’s money really was endless; over the past few years, he had managed to squeeze quite a bit from him, and it seemed he would have to continue doing so.

With a place to stay and a kitchen ready, they just needed to tidy up with some spells. The two of them excitedly went out to buy a bunch of ingredients; if conditions allowed, it was always better to eat freshly made hot food.

That night, Lu Xiaobai and Lin Ji each made their beds, washed up, and were about to settle down.

Suddenly, Lu Xiaobai said, "Uh, A Ji, if you can’t sleep tonight, you can come find me."

After saying that, he raised an eyebrow and returned to his room first.

Lin Ji asked, "…What do you mean?"

Lu Xiaobai meant it literally.

Lin Ji, who even needed to ask someone else to pay respects, was unwilling to go back and take a look. The shadows in his heart hadn’t faded with time.

The saying goes, the bigger the house, the fewer people there are, making it feel even emptier.

Although this place wasn’t the later Lin family, it was the old house, which held significant meaning.

Of course, it would be best if the other person slept soundly; Lu Xiaobai was just giving a gentle reminder.

The lights went out.

Originally, the sunny day had been beautiful, but when they returned to their rooms, they found the moon covered by dark clouds, and the sky suddenly turned gloomy.

Lin Ji lay on the bed, wondering if it would rain later. Not long after, the sound of raindrops indeed began to fall outside.

Accompanied by thunder and lightning, it felt as if something was about to strike someone down.

Lin Ji wasn’t afraid of the dark or thunder; not long ago, he had been struck seven times when he ascended to the Golden Core stage.

But being in this situation, with the atmosphere heightened by the storm...

Lin Ji felt uneasy.

He couldn’t remember how many times he fell asleep and woke up that night.

First, he dreamed of his grandparents, then of his parents, and even his third uncle’s family.

Then he dreamed of the night the Lin family was exterminated, leading to a series of nightmares.

Several times, he couldn’t help but sit up, dragging his feet to the door, wanting to go out and push open another door.

He forced himself to hold back.

The consequence of this was that the next day, Lu Xiaobai looked at him with a lively expression, holding his face and examining it. "Your eyes look like you’ve been punched twice. Didn’t I tell you to come find me if you couldn’t sleep?"

Lin Ji weakly brushed his hand away. "It’s nothing; I just wasn’t used to it on the first day, the bed feels strange."

Why would he go find him? He had lived two lives already; he wasn’t a child who needed his senior brother to hug and comfort him to sleep!

Lu Xiaobai replied, "…Alright. Let’s see how long you can hold out."

After breakfast, Lin Ji changed into luxurious clothes, planning to visit his father’s old friend. The materials of the immortal sect’s clothing were certainly incomparable to those of the mortal realm, and he wouldn’t be stopped before meeting anyone.

Lu Xiaobai rested his chin on his hand, staring at him without blinking.

Lin Ji was getting more and more handsome as he grew up! He was strikingly beautiful, almost glowing.

The two of them set out together and arrived at the street of the merchants in Yunzhou.

Lu Xiaobai said, "This is your family matter, so I won’t get involved. I’ll wander around nearby, and we can meet at that bridge."

Lin Ji perked up. "Alright."

Lin Ji went to meet his old friend, Mr. Wang.

He took out the gold lock he had worn around his neck since childhood as proof of his identity. "I heard this was a gift from my uncle back in the day."

Mr. Wang was very excited to take the gold lock and examine it. "Even without this, I would believe you are your father’s son. You look just like him; it’s uncanny."

"How is your father doing now?"

Lin Ji replied, "My father has passed away."

Mr. Wang was taken aback. "But he was seriously ill?"

Lin Ji explained, "It was an accident; he was harmed by bandits."

After a long pause, Mr. Wang sighed deeply. There was a look of regret on his face, but he didn’t seem too surprised. Perhaps he had sensed it when the son of an old friend came to seek him out. "I advised your father in the past not to go to such dangerous places and to consider his family."

"But he always said he was determined to collect rare treasures from all over the world..."

So adventurous, yet it cost him his life.

After a moment, Mr. Wang regained his composure and bowed. "I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said that."

Lin Ji replied, "…Uncle, you don’t need to worry about it."

He also felt that his father was too reckless; the wrong things he did wouldn’t become right just because he was dead, and it had dragged down the family. But he knew he couldn’t say that out loud.

Lin Ji realized that even without Lu Xiaobai by his side, he could still speak properly about serious matters. However, when it came to building rapport, he found himself at a loss for words.

He managed to exchange a few more sentences with Mr. Wang, revealing his purpose.

Mr. Wang grew increasingly astonished: the friend he had called brother had concealed his true name, and Lin Ji’s family was actually the Lin family that had been tragically exterminated a few years ago!

This incident had caused quite a stir, and people from both Dong and Yun states were aware of it.

Lin Ji said, "If Uncle is unwilling to help, then forget it."

When asking someone to do something, one must disclose the truth. If others were afraid of being dragged down, he could understand.

Mr. Wang quickly said, "No, no. I have known... Brother Lin for a long time, and I will help you."

After all, Lin Ji only needed him to set up a memorial here; he didn’t have to go to the Lin family.

Lin Ji stood up to bow, realizing that Mr. Wang was indeed a friend his father could trust.

Mr. Wang helped him up and then thought of something. "But why don’t you memorialize him yourself… What are your plans for the future?"

Lin Ji naturally wouldn’t tell others that he had become an immortal cultivator. He thought for a moment and said, "The grudges are too deep, and I’m not safe either, so I asked Uncle to memorialize him for me. In the future, I’ll take the imperial examination."

Mr. Wang imagined a scenario where Lin Ji became a high-ranking official to avenge his family, feeling a deep understanding. "That’s good; you need money right now. I’ll give you the money for the house deed and land deed first, and you can sell the house slowly later."

Lin Ji replied, "Thank you."

After leaving Mr. Wang’s residence, Lin Ji felt a sense of relief wash over him.

Lu Xiaobai was waiting on the bridge, looking around. When he saw Lin Ji approach, he was puzzled. "Why do you look even more exhausted than when you left? Did things not go well?"

Lin Ji replied, "Not at all. Mr. Wang insisted on treating me to a meal, and I refused countless times before he finally let me go."

After feeling polite for what seemed like hundreds of times, Lin Ji needed some time to recover his energy and didn’t want to talk to outsiders.

Lu Xiaobai laughed heartily and handed Lin Ji a skewer of candied hawthorn. "Then eat something sweet to regain your strength."

Perhaps the reason people tire easily is that they are different; he found Lin Ji increasingly interesting.

Lin Ji leaned against the bridge, zoning out for a moment, looking at the candied hawthorn in his hand.

He usually didn’t eat such childish things.

…But he was indeed a bit hungry and felt a little dizzy. After a moment, Lin Ji raised the skewer of candied hawthorn and took a bite.

He had never been able to tolerate sour flavors, even sweet and sour ones. The first bite was quite sour, but it did clear his mind a lot.

He finished the candied hawthorn bite by bite and noticed Lu Xiaobai leaning against the railing, tilting his head to look in the same direction.

Lin Ji suddenly asked, "What are you looking at?"

Lu Xiaobai turned back, seeing the empty bamboo skewer, and smiled knowingly. "Just now, while I was wandering around, I saw someone over there doing good deeds and distributing porridge. I heard today is some temple fair. Since we have nothing to do, do you want to go take a look with me?"

Returning to the old house felt uncomfortable in another way, but Lin Ji thought for a moment and agreed to go with Lu Xiaobai to see the commotion.

The two of them stood on the outer circle to watch; since they weren’t hungry, there was no need to join in.

No matter which dynasty or era, there were always people among the common folk who had a hard time living.

As they watched, Lu Xiaobai’s sharp eyes focused on a man for a long time. "I think the man distributing porridge looks a bit like you."

The man appeared to be in his forties, dressed in ordinary merchant attire, approachable in his demeanor.

He took the bowl and spoon from a servant and personally served the porridge to the people in line.

Lin Ji also stared for a long time, his body stiffening, his eyes unmoving.

He didn’t know how long it had been, but his lips trembled, and his voice shook. "He looks like my third uncle."

"I just dreamed of him last night."

"…"

But after two lives, spanning decades, he couldn’t clearly see his face in his dreams, so he wasn’t too sure.

Now, Lin Ji’s only feeling was a foggy mind, unsure of what to think, even lacking any thoughts.

A long-lost relative suddenly appeared before him, under the premise that he was certain he had already died.

It was impossible… In his last life, he had gone back home and seen the tombstones of his mother and his third uncle’s family.

On the night the Lin family was exterminated, when his mother pushed him away, she was covered in blood and fell to the ground, telling him to run with the mermaid pearl and to survive at all costs… He remembered it clearly.

He had prioritized his own survival, and before Xuan Yi Zhenren took him back to the Yunshang Immortal Sect, he had returned to the Lin family once.

To let him give up hope, to make him remember the deep-seated hatred.

At that time, the authorities had buried the Lin family members; he certainly couldn’t dig up the graves to confirm if it was really them.

Could it be that his third uncle was really still alive?

Then what about his mother…

Lin Ji suddenly became agitated, and Lu Xiaobai pulled him back. "Let’s go back and talk!"

Lu Xiaobai dragged him away, and Lin Ji’s strange reaction drew the attention of those around them.

Back at the old house.

Lu Xiaobai said, "Do you know why I didn’t let you go confirm it right away?"

Lin Ji’s mind was in disarray. After a moment of forced concentration, he answered without addressing the question, "I don’t want to recognize him."

If the whole family only had his third uncle left, he would rather not know about it.

His earlier excitement was just a glimmer of hope that perhaps his mother was also alive, wanting to go up and ask.

He hadn’t seen his third uncle much in his past life, and now separated by a lifetime, any familial bond had long since faded.

Lu Xiaobai lowered his gaze. "If you want to verify, first let someone check if your third uncle has looked for you, then decide if you want to meet him."

Lin Ji trembled all over, instantly understanding Lu Xiaobai’s meaning.

That’s right.

If his third uncle survived, then the aftermath of the Lin family would naturally be handled by someone, and those assets wouldn’t need to be confiscated.

He would certainly know that there was no body matching Lin Ji’s shape among the Lin family; if one was missing, it could be accounted for. If he had the heart, he would explain it to the authorities and have them search for him.

If he didn’t care, or if he went from caring to not caring, then there would be no need to meet him.

Lu Xiaobai added, "Besides, you’re dressed so conspicuously, and we just acted so conspicuously. If he’s not blind, he should be able to see you."

His third uncle only had one lifetime of memories; it wouldn’t be that he wouldn’t recognize Lin Ji after three or four years.

Lin Ji replied, "I understand."

By evening, no one came to visit.

The results they had paid a nearby homeless person to inquire about also arrived.

"I heard that one person from the Lin family did survive, but he has long since gone missing. Perhaps the blow was too great, and he left in sorrow..."

"Why are you two young masters asking about this? As for whether anyone has looked for the young master of the Lin family… Didn’t all the Lin family members die? I haven’t heard of anyone else being alive!"

"…"

Lu Xiaobai handed over a handful of coins. "You can split this among yourselves."

Lin Ji had already turned and returned to the old house.

In the evening, he ate his meal without tasting anything, his face devoid of emotion.

Lu Xiaobai couldn’t stand it anymore. "Why don’t you tell me what you’re thinking?"

After a long time, Lin Ji sighed. "I can accept it if he doesn’t recognize me."

The mermaid pearl was brought back by his father, and his third uncle must have some understanding of it. If his third uncle, like him, had seen the "immortal descending to the world," he would guess that the Lin family’s misfortune was not just due to the invasion of demons; his wife had also suffered misfortune... If he were to blame Lin Ji, it would be quite natural.

Lu Xiaobai said, "Perhaps he doesn’t want you to come back; otherwise, wouldn’t that just add another person to fight for the family assets? A Ji, human hearts are fickle."

Lin Ji lowered his gaze, feeling half-alive. "Then let him have it. After all, I’ve severed ties with the mortal world. It’s better for the family assets to be handed over to him than to the government. After my father died, the business was meant for him to take over."

If his third uncle suddenly came to confront him, saying that the mermaid pearl caused the death of his entire family, it would be equivalent to blaming Lin Ji’s father for the deaths of his wife and daughter, and he wouldn’t know how to defend himself.

Lu Xiaobai sighed. "It’s good that you can think this way."

But he was afraid things weren’t that simple.

That night, when Lin Ji opened the door, he found Lu Xiaobai sitting on the bed reading, with the light still on, clearly not planning to sleep.

"Come in." Lu Xiaobai smiled warmly.

Lin Ji felt a bit awkward.

After today’s events, he found it even harder to sleep.

He couldn’t understand how someone who had died in his past life could still be alive in this life.

Perhaps his third uncle had also been alive in his past life but had changed his name and identity, living on like his father.

The world was vast; one was in the mortal realm, and the other was cultivating immortality, never to reunite in a lifetime.

Or perhaps he had simply mistaken someone; that person might just resemble his third uncle.

There were many things in this world that had no solutions. Even if he knew the truth, what could he do?

He could only think until he was tired, until he didn’t want to think anymore.

Lin Ji said, "Let’s leave tomorrow."

"Alright." Lu Xiaobai lay down, raised his fingers to cast a spell. "Let’s rest well today; I’ll turn off the lights now."

The world fell into darkness. Lin Ji, however, didn’t have the same restless night as the previous one.

He thought until he fell asleep, listening to the breathing of the person beside him. His mind was still chaotic, but his heart felt much more stable than the night before.

Before falling into a hazy sleep, Lin Ji reached out and tightly hugged the person beside him.

In the middle of the night, the two of them were in various positions, sleeping messily.

Suddenly, Lu Xiaobai covered his ears. What was that sound?

It sounded like someone was grinding their teeth.

Lu Xiaobai looked incredulously at the person beside him. He remembered that Lin Ji hadn’t had this habit a few years ago!

Lu Xiaobai covered his ears and faced inward, planning to endure it.

"…"

He couldn’t endure it; the grinding sound grew louder, as if something was gnawing at his brain in the darkness.

Lu Xiaobai nudged Lin Ji. "Wake up."

Lin Ji, who was in a light sleep, woke up with a start. "What’s wrong?"

He quickly withdrew his hand that had been hugging Lu Xiaobai.

Lu Xiaobai said, "Don’t grind your teeth while you’re sleeping."

Lin Ji replied, "…What are you talking about? I can’t possibly grind my teeth."

Lu Xiaobai asked, "Then why did it go silent as soon as you woke up?"

Lin Ji said, "…It wasn’t me."

Was it me? Lu Xiaobai lay back down. "Then go back to sleep."

After a moment, the grinding sound continued.

Lu Xiaobai elbowed Lin Ji.

Lin Ji said, "I’m not asleep."

"…"

The two of them quickly jumped up, using their spiritual power to light the oil lamp.

In the darkness, countless strange red shapes of animals were rapidly crawling toward the edge of the bed.