Looking at the Fire Qilin, who was wearing a long, trailing coat, pouting, and gazing at him with big, watery eyes.
Its wronged look made it seem as if it had suffered a great injustice.
"Looks like I need to find you some clothes that fit?"
Bu Fan rubbed his forehead. He was still not quite used to the Fire Qilin's human form.
"Master, you don't dislike this servant anymore?" The Fire Qilin immediately beamed with joy.
"Stop! Don't call me Master anymore, and don't call yourself servant!" Bu Fan said sternly, quickly interrupting the Fire Qilin.
This was getting out of hand.
Before the Fire Qilin had transformed into human form, these titles and ways of address hadn't bothered him.
But now, being called 'Master' by a little pudding made him feel like a pervert.
"Why, is it that Master doesn't want this servant anymore!" The Fire Qilin's watery eyes instantly welled up.
Bu Fan: "..."
That was a pretty quick change, wasn't it?
Just a moment ago it was smiling, and now it looked like it was about to cry.
"Alright, alright, it's not that I don't want you, it's just that now that you've taken human form, we can't use the old titles anymore!"
Bu Fan took a deep breath and spoke in a comforting tone, like one would to a child.
In the past, seeing the Fire Qilin like this, he would have kicked it away long ago. What was going on now?
Could he be a 'face-con' (someone who only cares about looks)?
Not possible.
He just had no immunity to children.
"Then what should I call you?" The Fire Qilin blinked its big eyes.
"Brother, perhaps!" Bu Fan thought for a moment. "Do you plan to live in human form from now on, or return to your previous appearance?"
"Of course, this one!"
The Fire Qilin wasn't stupid. Although the reclusive great cultivator had treated it well before, his words were always flat. Sometimes, when it made mistakes, he would get angry at it.
How could he compare to the gentleness it was experiencing now?
It seemed the Fox Demon Tribe wasn't entirely wrong.
Human cultivators still preferred the transformed appearance of their demon race.
"Then I'll have to arrange an identity for you to stay!" Bu Fan stroked his chin. "However, your ears are a bit troublesome."
"Master"
The Fire Qilin was about to say 'Master' when it met Bu Fan's stern gaze and immediately stopped.
"Brother, do you mean these two? These aren't ears, they're Qilin horns. My ears are here!"
The Fire Qilin pulled at the two horns on its head with its little hands, then lifted the hair on the sides, revealing two small, delicate ears.
Bu Fan's expression was blank.
So these weren't cat ears!
Why did it feel like his fantasies were collapsing again!
"Brother, do you think these two Qilin horns are unsightly? Actually, these two Qilin horns can shrink!"
For some reason, the horns on the Fire Qilin's head emitted a faint light and gradually shrank.
However, even though the horns had shrunk considerably, one could still see the two distinct little horns on the Fire Qilin's head if one looked closely.
"I'll tie your hair up."
Bu Fan thought for a moment, then walked over and tied the Fire Qilin's hair into two round, puffy little buns.
He had seen most of the younger girls in the private school wear their hair like this. Although he hadn't learned how to do it, he could imitate it to some extent.
The Fire Qilin stood still, its little face slightly flushed, allowing Bu Fan to fiddle with its hair.
"Alright, go take a look. How is it? Do you like it?" Bu Fan said with satisfaction and nodded.The Fire Qilin took tiny steps to a nearby water tank and looked at its reflection. It touched the two little buns on its head with its hands.
"I like it!"
Seeing the Fire Qilin's happy and cute little face, Bu Fan smiled.
It was fine to think of it as picking up a little sister.
...
The next day, the news that Bu Fan had found a little girl in the mountains quickly spread through the village.
This little girl had an extremely tragic life. Her mother had died during childbirth, and later, her father remarried.
At first, the stepmother treated her very well. But who would have thought that after the stepmother had her own son, she would often scold and beat her, and even withhold food from her.
Until the little girl became seriously ill. Her father and stepmother thought she wouldn't live long, so they simply abandoned her in the mountains to fend for herself.
To survive, the little girl, still weak from her illness, walked step by step until she could no longer move, collapsing in the mud.
Perhaps it was fate that she didn't die.
Just as the little girl was about to give up, she met the young village chief, who was gathering herbs on the mountain.
When the young village chief heard the little girl's story and recalled his past experiences, he took her in.
The first half of the story was made up by Bu Fan. Although it was full of flaws, it was barely enough to fool people, while the latter half was purely the villagers' imagination.
However, seeing the Fire Qilin's tearful, pitiable appearance as it recounted the story to the villagers, it was enough to make listeners sad and viewers shed tears. The surrounding villagers' eyes were all red.
Bu Fan was speechless.
He had known before that the Fire Qilin had a talent for drama, but he never expected that after transforming into human form, this talent would explode.
Fortunately, thanks to this performance, before he could even speak, villagers brought suitable clothes for the Fire Qilin.
"Brother, how do I look, Lin'er?"
The Fire Qilin, dressed in a pink dress, twirled in front of Bu Fan, looking very happy.
"Not bad!"
Bu Fan nodded.
Lin'er was the Fire Qilin's current name. The old name could no longer be used.
"Brother, Lin'er wants to go to the private school too!" The Fire Qilin said bravely.
"Why?" Bu Fan looked at her curiously.
The Fire Qilin was a little nervous, clenching the corner of its clothes.
Could it be that the reclusive great cultivator had guessed her intention to steal knowledge?
"Okay, if you want to go, then go!"
Bu Fan didn't think much of it, only assuming the Fire Qilin wanted to make friends at the private school.
"Thank you, Brother!"
The Fire Qilin happily hugged Bu Fan's thigh. Bu Fan shook his head helplessly.
...
Afterward, the Fire Qilin followed Bu Fan to the private school. Within a few days, she had become friends with the children there.
It couldn't be helped.
The Fire Qilin's appearance was too deceptive. She was well-behaved, likable, and her words were exceptionally sweet. It was no wonder that not only the adults in the village but also the little girls and boys loved to play with her.
Another few days passed.
Bu Fan was teaching when he saw several figures standing outside the window.
Except for a young man with a tall stature and sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes, whom Bu Fan didn't recognize, he knew the others – it was Wáng Chángguì and several village elders.
"You all copy the words on the blackboard first."
Bu Fan instructed them and then walked out of the private school.
The children also noticed the situation outside. Although curious, they obediently started copying the words.
The Fire Qilin was biting a piece of chalk and looking curiously outside.
"Little Lin, teacher said chalk is not for eating. If you eat it, you'll get a stomachache!"
Her deskmate Xiǎocǎo smiled at the Fire Qilin's cute appearance and kindly reminded her.
"Okay, thank you, Sister Xiǎocǎo!" The Fire Qilin said sweetly.
...
"Old Village Chief, esteemed elders, what brings you here?"
Outside the private school, Bu Fan greeted Wáng Chángguì and the others with a smile.
Then, he focused his gaze on the young man. This young man was no ordinary person but a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.
Chapter 61: You are even more formidable than them
"Bu Fan, it's been a few years. Not only have you become the village chief, but you've also become the village's teacher!" the young man said plainly.
"You are?" Bu Fan asked, puzzled.
"Xiǎo Fán, don't you recognize Elder Song's son?" Wáng Chángguì reminded him.
"Are you Sòng Xiǎochūn?"
Bu Fan was surprised. A round figure instantly appeared in his mind, and then he looked at the young man with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes and a tall stature before him. Was this a mutation?
"It seems you haven't completely forgotten me!"
Sòng Xiǎochūn was not surprised by Bu Fan's astonishment. He hadn't returned for many years. Let alone Bu Fan, even his parents were dumbfounded.
"I almost didn't recognize you. You've changed so much compared to before," Bu Fan said with a smile.
"Shall we go out and chat sometime?" Sòng Xiǎochūn asked.
Bu Fan wasn't afraid of Sòng Xiǎochūn causing trouble, so he didn't refuse. He nodded and walked out with Sòng Xiǎochūn.
Wáng Chángguì and the others knew that Sòng Xiǎochūn must have something important to discuss with Bu Fan, so they didn't follow. They stayed in the private school, watching the children practice writing.
"I wonder what you're looking for me for?"
Leaving the private school, Bu Fan asked curiously.
"Don't be nervous. I'm not here to cause trouble for you. We were all young and immature back then. I've forgotten most of those things," Sòng Xiǎochūn said with a wave of his hand, showing a magnanimous demeanor.
Bu Fan's mouth twitched.
If it weren't for the enmity value showing 20, he would have believed him.
However, it was true that Sòng Xiǎochūn's enmity towards him had gradually decreased over the past few years.
Perhaps people change as they grow older.
"Besides, I am now a cultivator, only one step away from the Foundation Establishment stage. You're probably not even familiar with Foundation Establishment yet."
"Foundation Establishment is when you truly become a cultivator, capable of manipulating clouds and rain at will, flying through the air, with a lifespan of over two hundred years."
"And I am now at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation. Within five years, I will be a Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could I bother with a mortal like you!"
Sòng Xiǎochūn stood with his hands behind his back, his expression extremely proud. "Moreover, I am now the top disciple of the Tianxuan Sect. How about that, Bu Fan, are you shocked?"
"Hmm, very impressive!"
Bu Fan clapped his hands. He finally understood Sòng Xiǎochūn's purpose in calling him out. It turned out he wanted to show off in front of him.
"Aren't you even a little envious? Or do you regret not joining the Tianxuan Sect back then?" Sòng Xiǎochūn frowned, disliking Bu Fan's indifferent attitude.
"No. I think things are quite good as they are now," Bu Fan shrugged.
"Short-sighted! A mortal's lifespan is merely a hundred years, while cultivators can live for thousands, tens of thousands, or even eternity!" Sòng Xiǎochūn said grandly.
"It is indeed quite good!" Bu Fan nodded.
"Are you envious? Considering we were childhood friends, if you're willing, I can take you as a disciple and teach you supreme immortal techniques!" Sòng Xiǎochūn said with his hands behind his back, acting like an enlightened master.
"Later, when I reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I'll be an elder of the Tianxuan Sect, and you'll be a disciple under a Foundation Establishment elder!"
[Quest: Become a Disciple]
[Quest Description: Because he was bullied by someone back then, Sòng Xiǎochūn has been holding a grudge. However, considering the person's contributions to the village, he intends to take him as a disciple and make him serve tea and water.]
[Quest Reward: 100,000 experience points, one divine ability]
[Accept! Refuse!]
So he was still holding a grudge about the past.
But who was the one who was bullied back then!
"I appreciate your good intentions, but I feel it's more meaningful to stay in the village!" Bu Fan refused without hesitation.
"Think carefully!" Sòng Xiǎochūn's expression turned serious.
"I've thought very clearly," Bu Fan replied.
"As expected, a short-sighted person!"
Sòng Xiǎochūn was so angry that he was about to leave with a flick of his sleeve, but then he stopped.
"In a while, the Tianxuan Sect will be relocating, and I will go with them. However, I don't know how many years it will be before I return. I'll entrust my parents to you. I will surely reward you handsomely in the future."
Looking at Sòng Xiǎochūn's retreating figure, Bu Fan frowned slightly.
Was the Tianxuan Sect relocating?
Could it be related to the war between righteousness and evil?
Still, it was fortunate he didn't join the Tianxuan Sect back then, otherwise, he would have to flee now.
As expected, there were too many troubles and disputes in the Cultivation World.
Bu Fan shook his head and returned to the private school.
Wáng Chángguì and the others quickly stepped forward to inquire. Bu Fan did not hide anything and told them about Sòng Xiǎochūn's intention to take him as a disciple.
Of course, he did not mention the relocation of the Tianxuan Sect.
"I didn't expect Xiǎochūn to reach that celestial realm!"
Wáng Chángguì and the others sighed. They didn't understand what Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment meant, but they knew that immortals who could fly in the sky were extremely formidable.
However, they were not surprised that Bu Fan refused Sòng Xiǎochūn.
Back then, Bu Fan was able to refuse that elder of the Tianxuan Sect, so refusing again now didn't seem unusual.
...
Sòng Xiǎochūn stayed in the village for only two days before he had to leave.
Many people in the village came to see him off after hearing the news. After all, Sòng Xiǎochūn was an immortal from their village.
As the village chief, Bu Fan naturally had to set an example and led a group of disciples to see Sòng Xiǎochūn off.
Sòng Xiǎochūn glanced at Bu Fan, then at the villagers. After a flash of mixed emotions in his eyes, he waved his sleeve, and white light appeared, revealing a small wooden boat that materialized out of thin air.
This small wooden boat was a flying artifact that Sòng Xiǎochūn had won in the Tianxuan Sect competition. It was inlaid with low-grade spirit stones and could be controlled by consuming a bit of spiritual power from a cultivator. Even cultivators who had not reached Foundation Establishment could operate it with ease.
Sòng Xiǎochūn didn't say much. After getting into the small wooden boat, it gradually flew up and, amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, disappeared into the sky.
"This is an immortal!"
Many children's eyes sparkled with longing.
"What's there to envy? As long as you follow teacher's teachings, you'll be even more formidable than them!" the Fire Qilin said, holding its head high.
"Really?"
Xiǎocǎo did not believe it, and neither did the other children.
Teacher only taught them to read and write, sometimes taught them Go, played the yaoqin, and painted. How could these compare to immortals who cultivated immortal techniques?
"You better believe it. A truly formidable scholar can kill an immortal with a single spit!" the Fire Qilin said with a very serious expression.
"Is it really that powerful?"
Xiǎocǎo and the others' jaws dropped. How could they believe it?
Let alone these children, not a single villager believed it.
No matter how formidable a scholar was, could he be more formidable than immortals who could fly and escape the earth?
How was that possible!
"Alright, alright, it's time for class. Follow me to the private school!"
Bu Fan had heard the Fire Qilin's words but didn't take them seriously. He only thought the Fire Qilin meant that he wanted him to teach the children immortal cultivation techniques.
However, the children had no spiritual roots; he had personally tested them.
Chapter 62: Imperial Examinations?
"Máo zhī chīchī, bào bù màosī, fěi lái màosī, lái jí wǒ móu, sòng zǐ shè qí..."
In the early morning, waves of reading voices echoed through the peaceful little village, warming everyone's hearts like the winter sun.
At this moment, many busy villagers would stop their work and listen quietly.
They didn't understand why, but every time they heard the children reading, they felt exceptionally peaceful and serene.
Moreover, they noticed that when they listened to the children reading while working, they felt particularly energetic, as if they had become ten years younger.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for school to end. The children said goodbye to Bu Fan one by one and left.
Bu Fan rode the Little White Donkey, with the Fire Qilin sitting in front, and slowly headed home.
"I have a little donkey, I never ride it. One day, on a whim, I rode it to the market. I held a small whip in my hand, and I was feeling proud..."
The Fire Qilin hummed a little tune, swaying its head from side to side, with two little buns tied on its head, looking exceptionally lively and cute.
Listening to the Fire Qilin's naive and cheerful voice, Bu Fan couldn't help but feel relieved.
"Eh, Brother, look, that's the Old Village Chief!"
The Fire Qilin pointed forward with its little hand. Bu Fan looked up and saw Wáng Chángguì standing in front of his house in the distance.
The Little White Donkey, being observant, immediately sped up towards them.
Soon, they arrived.
"Old Village Chief, if you were looking for me, you could have just gone to the private school. There was no need to wait at my door!" Bu Fan jumped off the Little White Donkey and greeted Wáng Chángguì.
"It's not convenient to go to the private school!" Wáng Chángguì waved his hand.
Seeing the situation, Bu Fan knew Wáng Chángguì must have something to discuss, so he quickly welcomed him into the house.
"The peach tree you planted has grown so big. Remember to bring me a few when it bears fruit next time!"
Passing through the courtyard, Wáng Chángguì glanced at the large peach tree in the yard and exclaimed.
"Old Village Chief, it's not that I don't want to save any for you, but I've never even eaten the fruit from this peach tree!" Bu Fan chuckled and shook his head.
"No way, such a big peach tree still hasn't borne fruit?" Wáng Chángguì examined the peach tree again. "Is it not getting enough fertilizer?"
"I'm not sure!"
Bu Fan shook his head.
Fertilizer?
He remembered the Little White Donkey fertilizing this peach tree daily, but he hadn't seen any changes in the tree.
Wáng Chángguì didn't dwell on the issue and followed Bu Fan into the house.
The Fire Qilin skillfully served them tea.
Wáng Chángguì couldn't help but sigh, "She's such an sensible and good child!"
The Fire Qilin showed a cute and sweet smile, slightly bowing its small body, "Thank you, Grandpa Old Village Chief, for the compliment!"
Bu Fan: "..."
Acting cute is shameful!
"Xiǎo Fán, you really are blessed!"
Wáng Chángguì smiled heartily. Perhaps it was because of his old age, he particularly liked cute and pleasing girls.
"It's alright!"
Bu Fan scratched his head. "By the way, Old Village Chief, what did you want to see me about this time?"
"Oh, it's like this. Tiě Dàn, Èr Gǒu, and the other children are old enough to try their luck in town!" Wáng Chángguì said, holding his teacup.
Try their luck?
Bu Fan was a little slow to react.
But then he understood what the Old Village Chief meant.
"You mean the imperial examinations? But are Tiě Dàn and the others knowledgeable enough?" Bu Fan hesitated. He had never taken the imperial examinations and didn't know how difficult they were.
"There's definitely no problem. Yesterday, I, along with a few village elders, tested the children on some questions, and they all answered them with ease. Passing the town's Child Scholar Examination is definitely not a problem, and they might even get xiucai," Wáng Chángguì's old eyes suddenly shone with excitement. It had been many years since Gala Village had produced a xiucai, and this made him very thrilled.
"If you say so, then there's no problem. But what are the requirements for participating in the Child Scholar Examination? I heard that one needs to be recommended by a xiucai to participate. I don't remember if our village has any xiucai!"
Although Bu Fan had never taken the imperial examinations, he had heard some things about them.
"You don't need to worry about this. The recommendation will be handled by me and a few elders. It's rare for the village to have good seedlings like these. We old folks can't let them be buried!" Wáng Chángguì said with a smile.
Since Wáng Chángguì said so, Bu Fan couldn't say anything more.
Actually, he could guess what was going on. Either Wáng Chángguì and the others knew someone who could get them places, or they would buy them directly with money.
But these were not things he needed to care about.
"However, Xiǎo Fán, the imperial examinations require students to write with a brush. Your chalk is good, but it can't be used here," Wáng Chángguì said, as if he had just thought of something.
"Old Village Chief, I understand what you mean. I will teach them how to write with a brush during this time!" Bu Fan immediately agreed, as he understood what the Old Village Chief meant.
"That's good. As for the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, leave that to us old folks!" Wáng Chángguì said with a hearty laugh. He was quite confident in Bu Fan's calligraphy.
After discussing some more matters regarding the imperial examinations with Wáng Chángguì, Wáng Chángguì left happily.
Imperial examinations!
Bu Fan stroked his chin.
As their teacher, he naturally wished for his disciples to succeed.
But what if they encountered danger outside?
It seemed he had to teach them some self-defense techniques.
...
The next morning, Bu Fan called the five children who were going to take the imperial examinations in town and told them about it.
"Teacher, can we do it?" Tiě Dàn asked nervously, his little face full of doubt.
The other four children also looked timid. In the past, they never even dared to dream of reading and writing, let alone participating in the imperial examinations like scholars.
"What's there to be afraid of? Have you forgotten what I usually teach you? Don't panic when you encounter problems," Bu Fan said with his hands behind his back.
Tiě Dàn and the other five looked at each other and lowered their heads.
"Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Just do your best. Even if you don't succeed, consider it as gaining experience. Besides, there's still some time before the imperial examinations, so there's plenty of time to prepare," Bu Fan comforted them, understanding their feelings about facing the exam.
"During this time, I will teach you how to write with a brush."
"We understand!"
The five children, including Tiě Dàn, nodded heavily.
After the children left the house.
"Tiě Dàn, do you think we can do it?" Èr Gǒu whispered.
"Even if we can't, we have to try. Teacher believes in us so much, we can't let him down!" Tiě Dàn's eyes were firm.
"That's right, we can't let teacher down!"
Èr Gǒu and the other three children also became determined.
Bu Fan's divine sense could detect the children's quiet whispers. He shook his head. He wasn't worried at all whether Tiě Dàn and the others could pass.
Although he had never taken the imperial examinations himself, he was confident that his disciples would not be bad.
Yes, he was that confident.
Chapter 63: Who Dares?
In the following days,
Bu Fan not only taught the children some martial arts but also used his spare time to teach the children in the private school how to write with a brush.
Children who were used to using chalk often made mistakes when using a brush. They either gripped it too tightly or pressed too hard when writing, tearing the paper.
This situation lasted for a few days, and then the children gradually got used to it.
However, compared to writing with a brush, they preferred to use chalk to draw and write on the small blackboard.
"Village Chief, it's bad!"
One day, as Bu Fan was teaching the children calligraphy, Uncle Hei's urgent voice suddenly came from outside.
At this moment, Uncle Hei was leaning on the doorframe, gasping for breath.
The children in the private school all looked over.
"What happened?"
Bu Fan walked over and asked.
"It's Wáng Lǎosì's family..."
Uncle Hei was about to say something when he noticed the children looking at him and immediately stopped.
Bu Fan knew Wáng Lǎosì. He was a notorious gambler in the village. Not only did he gamble, but he also liked to drink. Drinking was one thing, but he had no self-control when drunk and would often go berserk, beating his wife and children.
He remembered dealing with Wáng Lǎosì's affairs just two months ago.
At that time, Wáng Lǎosì had repeatedly promised not to gamble or drink.
Could it be that Wáng Lǎosì had started drinking and beating his wife again?
"I'm going out for a bit. You all continue practicing your writing here," Bu Fan said as he was about to leave with Uncle Hei.
A little boy suddenly stood up.
"Teacher, I want to go with you!"
Bu Fan looked over.
This little boy was called Èr Gǒu, Wáng Lǎosì's second son.
Because his first son died before he was a month old, in order to ensure he could raise him, Wáng Lǎosì simply gave his second child a common name.
"Alright!"
Bu Fan did not refuse.
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate..."
Uncle Hei looked hesitant.
Seeing this, Bù Fán felt that this matter was not simple. "Did something happen?"
Uncle Hei glanced at Èr Gǒu and whispered a few words into his ear.
Bù Fán's expression changed.
"Èr Gǒu, you stay at the private school!"
"Teacher, as your son, I have the right to know what happened at home!" Èr Gǒu said stubbornly, his young face resolute.
"Alright, as you wish. But you can come with me, but once we get there, you can't act rashly. Listen to me about everything."
Bù Fán waved his hand. After all, this matter had become so big that Èr Gǒu would find out sooner or later.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Èr Gǒu cupped his hands in greeting.
...
Soon, they arrived at Wáng Lǎosì's house.
At this moment, many villagers, men holding hoes and shovels, and women holding wooden sticks, were blocking the entrance to Wáng Lǎosì's house. Facing them was a group of unfamiliar, bare-chested, burly men.
These bare-chested, burly men had fierce expressions, staring at the villagers.
"I advise you to be sensible and move aside. Otherwise, if we have to fight, my brothers won't go easy on you!" threatened a burly man leading the group.
The villagers were startled by this, and their hands holding farming tools trembled. Some villagers even subconsciously took a step back.
To be honest, it was fake not to be afraid when facing such a large group of fierce-looking people.
"I'd like to see who dares!"
Bù Fán said sternly, striding forward.
"Village Chief!"
"Village Chief, you're finally here!"
As soon as the villagers saw him, they all breathed a sigh of relief and immediately felt less timid and afraid.
"Are you the village chief of this village?"
The burly man was slightly taken aback. He didn't expect the village chief of Gala Village to be so young.
"You've come at the right time. Your village's Wáng Lǎosì owes our casino sixty taels of silver. He can't pay it back, so he's selling his wife to us as payment."
"It's all written down here in black and white!"
The burly man picked up an IOU and unfolded it in front of Bù Fán.
Bù Fán only glanced at the IOU before his gaze sternly fell upon the trembling Wáng Lǎosì beside him.
"Good! Wáng Lǎosì, you're something else. What did you promise me last time? You forgot in less than two months. Not only did you gamble, but you also lost your wife?"
Wáng Lǎosì didn't dare to meet his gaze, lowering his head.
"Mother!"
Èr Gǒu immediately rushed into the courtyard.
"Èr Gǒu!"
Wáng Lǎosì's wife was already pale with fear. Seeing Èr Gǒu run over, she immediately hugged him and burst into tears.
Èr Gǒu felt his mother's fear and trembling, his eyes turned red, and he looked at Bù Fán, saying, "Teacher, you must save my mother! My mother can't be taken away by them!"
[Quest: The Pitiful Woman]
[Quest Description: The gambling scoundrel Wáng Lǎosì owes a huge gambling debt in town. He can't pay it back and has mortgaged his wife as gambling debt to the casino. Èr Gǒu doesn't want to lose his young mother, so he implores you to help!]
[Quest Reward: 40000 experience points]
[Accept! Decline!]
"Alright, alright, I don't want to hear your business. Once I take her away, you can cry and mourn however you want."
The burly man waved his hand impatiently.
He had seen such scenes many times. Each time, it was like a farewell of life and death.
Several burly men beside him were about to grab the woman.
"I'd like to see who dares to take her away!" Bù Fán said sternly.
"I say, little village chief, we've shown you the IOU. You're not going to deny it, are you?" The burly man's face turned a bit fiercer.
"And what if I say I won't?" Bù Fán retorted.
"Do you know who we are?" The burly man was surprised that this little village chief dared to speak like that and his face darkened.
"I don't care who you are, but I will tell you, what place is this!"
"This is not in town, this is Gala Village. This is my territory, Bù Fán's territory. If you want to take someone from our village, you have to ask if we agree!"
Bù Fán glared at the burly man and his subordinates. He raised one hand, and the villagers behind him shouted in unison.
"We don't agree!"
The sound, like a thunderclap, instantly spread to every corner of the village.
The burly men and their group shivered at the momentum.
They had been collecting debts for many years and had never encountered such a united group of villagers.
One should know that when they collected debts before, most of the villagers would just watch the show from the sidelines.
Even if there were kind-hearted villagers, at most, they would only persuade them a few words, and then be scared away by them and immediately shrink back.
"I say, little village chief, this is a bit unreasonable. Debts must be paid, that's only natural. Even if we go to the town yamen, we will be in the right!"
The burly man's tone weakened slightly.
There was no other way.
Not to mention these villagers with imposing momentum in front of him, he noticed that more and more villagers were coming with either cleavers in hand or carrying hammers and axes.
He feared that more people would come soon.
Although he and his brothers could fight ten people, even if they were skilled, they couldn't stand being outnumbered.
Chapter 64: Don't Want Your Wife? Find Me.
"We people of Gala Village are not untrustworthy. We will not acknowledge your IOU, but we will return as much silver as Wáng Lǎosì borrowed from you."
Bù Fán said calmly, looking at the burly man in front of him, "What do you think?"
"This is somewhat against the rules!" The burly man looked hesitant, his gaze flickered over the furious villagers surrounding them. He pondered whether to agree to the little village chief's terms.
But if this news spread, would their casino still be able to do business in the future?
"Boss, I remember Wáng Lǎosì boasting to me last time that two children from his village were chosen by an immortal!" At this moment, a subordinate nearby suddenly remembered something and reminded him.
"There is such a thing!" The burly man's expression changed.
No wonder these villagers had such imposing momentum. It turned out they had produced immortals.
And two of them.
One should know that immortals are not to be trifled with. Even though their casino had a high status in town and was backed by the yamen, they were nothing compared to immortals.
"Haha, I'll give the village chief face on this matter, Hu Han. Wáng Lǎosì's debt to our casino no longer needs to be repaid. Let's consider it a friendship with the village chief!!" The burly man laughed heartily, as if the unpleasantness just now had never happened.
"No need! What needs to be repaid, we will repay. Otherwise, people will think that our Gala Village bullies others with power!"
Bù Fán naturally heard the conversation between Hu Han and his subordinate, but he didn't take it to heart. As long as the matter could be resolved.
Wáng Lǎosì's face showed joy when he heard that the silver didn't need to be repaid, but after hearing Bù Fán's words, his face fell.
Isn't this village chief trying to trick him?
"Say it, how much silver did Wáng Lǎosì owe you?" Bù Fán asked Hu Han, completely unaware of what Wáng Lǎosì was thinking.
"The village chief acts with integrity. I, Hu Han, admire you!" Hu Han cupped his hands.
"Stop with the useless chatter. Tell me, how much silver did Wáng Lǎosì borrow from your casino?" Bù Fán asked impolitely.
"Alright, Village Chief, you're quick-witted. Wáng Lǎosì borrowed thirty taels from our casino. May I ask if the Village Chief intends to repay it today or another day?" Hu Han was not angered by Bù Fán's words. Having been in the casino business for so many years, mere brute force was not enough; sometimes, flexibility was needed.
The surrounding villagers gasped when they heard thirty taels. They never expected Wáng Lǎosì to dare to borrow so much money.
Bù Fán's eyes turned cold, and he looked at Wáng Lǎosì, "How much silver does your family have now?"
"None, not a single copper coin!" Wáng Lǎosì shook his head.
"Village Chief, the family has eight taels left, I'll get it for you right away!" At this moment, Wáng Lǎosì's wife had recovered from her fright and immediately got up and went into the house.
Wáng Lǎosì wished he could stop his wife from taking the money, but with so many eyes watching, he cursed inwardly.
This stupid woman.
He'll deal with her tonight.
Since Wáng Lǎosì's family couldn't come up with so much money, the surrounding villagers went home one after another and borrowed their spare money to lend to Wáng Lǎosì's family to tide them over. Lǐ Èr's family lent the most, contributing half of the silver.
"I won't count the silver. I, Hu Han, trust you. I'll return the IOU to the Village Chief." Hu Han threw a bag of silver to a subordinate beside him, without any further ado, and gave the IOU to Bù Fán.
"From now on, if Wáng Lǎosì goes to your casino again, just break his legs and send him back!" Bù Fán tore up the IOU without even looking at it.
"Okay, we'll do as the Village Chief says!" Hu Han muttered inwardly.
Let alone Wáng Lǎosì, from now on, no one from this village would be allowed in.
After Hu Han left with his subordinates.
[Quest The Pitiful Woman completed]
[Quest Reward: 40000 experience points x2]
[For protecting the villagers: Reward: 50000 experience points x2]
[Heavenly Demon Scripture upgraded]
[Mighty Vajra Palm upgraded]
[Creation Burning Heaven Formula upgraded]
...
At this moment, Bù Fán had no time to pay attention to these.
"Bang!" With a kick, he sent Wáng Lǎosì tumbling to the ground.
"You good-for-nothing Wáng Lǎosì! Not only did you gamble at the casino, but you also pawned your wife to the casino as gambling debt! If you have too many wives, just say so. There are plenty of unmarried men in the village!"
The surrounding villagers were startled by Bù Fán's demeanor.
Everyone knew that Bù Fán had always been kind and respectful to elders. This was the first time they had seen Bù Fán so furious.
But when they thought about the scoundrel things Wáng Lǎosì had done, a thought arose in their hearts:
He deserved it!
He should be kicked to death, this scumbag.
"The Village Chief is right. Wáng Lǎosì, if you don't want your wife, tell me, Sòng Lǎizi! I, Sòng Lǎizi, am worried about not having a wife to warm my bed. Don't worry, Èr Gǒu, I'll treat him like my own son!" Sòng Lǎizi said with a laugh, joining in the mockery.
"Get lost, you bastard!" Wáng Lǎosì clutched his aching chest and cursed.
"It seems that kick wasn't hard enough, you still have the energy to curse?" As Bù Fán raised his foot, Wáng Lǎosì on the ground quickly scrambled backward in fear.
"No, no, Village Chief, I know I was wrong. I'll never dare to do it again. If I dare to go to the casino again next time, I'll die a terrible death!!" Wáng Lǎosì knew he was in the wrong and quickly swore to the heavens.
"You still want a next time?" Bù Fán raised an eyebrow.
"No next time! No next time!" Wáng Lǎosì's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly shook his head.
"What about the silver you owe the villagers?" Bù Fán asked again.
"Don't worry, villagers. I, Wáng Lǎosì, will repay the silver I owe the villagers as soon as possible!" Wáng Lǎosì repeatedly assured the villagers around him.
"You not only have to repay it, but you have to repay it with interest to the villagers!!" Bù Fán's tone was cold.
"Huh? With interest too!" Wáng Lǎosì was stunned.
"Then you don't intend to repay it?" Bù Fán's eyes turned cold.
"No, no! I will definitely repay it, I will definitely repay it!" Wáng Lǎosì quickly shook his head. The little village chief's gaze was terrifying, as if it could kill.
The surrounding villagers exchanged glances.
Actually, they didn't care much about whether they should charge interest or not. As long as the silver could be repaid, that was enough.
Lǐ Èr initially wanted to say that interest was not necessary.
But thinking that Bù Fán's actions were certainly meant to teach Wáng Lǎosì a lesson, he didn't say anything.
"Mother, where are you going?" At this moment, Èr Gǒu's voice could be heard.
The villagers looked in the direction of the sound.
At this moment, Wáng Lǎosì's wife came out, holding a bundle in her arms.
"Wife, what are you doing with that bundle?" Wáng Lǎosì saw this and quickly ran to Wáng Lǎosì's wife.
"Get away from me!" Wáng Lǎosì's wife pushed Wáng Lǎosì's hand away and walked directly to Bù Fán.
"Village Chief, I need to go back to my mother's house for a while. I'll entrust Èr Gǒu to your care!" Wáng Lǎosì's wife's eyes were red. Bù Fán sighed, "Don't worry, Èr Gǒu is my student, I will take good care of him!"
"No! You can't go back! Who will do the laundry and cook for me and Èr Gǒu!" Wáng Lǎosì disagreed and tried to stop his wife, but Bù Fán blocked him.
Chapter 65: I Am Wáng Lǎosì
"Thank you, Village Chief!" Wáng Lǎosì's wife ignored Wáng Lǎosì, wiped away her tears, bowed slightly to Bù Fán, and walked out of the village.
"Village Chief, why are you letting her leave?" Wáng Lǎosì was anxious.
"You don't want her to leave? Do you want her to be sold by you again?" Bù Fán retorted.
"I was just blinded by gambling!?" Wáng Lǎosì was speechless.
"Sister-in-law, don't be sad. Why don't you consider me, Sòng Lǎizi? Although I, Sòng Lǎizi, am a scoundrel, I would never do something like selling my wife!" Sòng Lǎizi shouted.
Bù Fán: "..." So Sòng Lǎizi still had designs on other people's wives.
Is this what they call a drought in one place and a flood in another?
However, Sòng Lǎizi wasn't here just to stir up trouble.
Just now, Sòng Lǎizi had rushed over with two large axes to support them.
"Scram, she's my wife!" Wáng Lǎosì glared at Sòng Lǎizi.
"You don't cherish your wife anyway, so why can't others cherish her!" Sòng Lǎizi shrugged indifferently. He was shameless anyway.
The surrounding villagers couldn't help but nod their heads at his words.
Although they felt it was immoral, what Sòng Lǎizi said made sense. If you don't cherish your wife, can't others cherish her?
Especially the women, they looked at Wáng Lǎosì with contempt and disdain, thinking that they should tell their husbands to stay away from this Wáng Lǎosì in the future, lest they learn bad habits from him.
And the men's thoughts were simple.
They should cherish their wives more in the future, lest they be snatched away by Sòng Lǎizi.
Bù Fán didn't know that because of Sòng Lǎizi's commotion, the men in the village suddenly became even more tender towards their wives.
"Wáng Lǎosì, reflect well on yourself during this time. When you've reflected thoroughly, then go and bring your wife back!"
"Understood!" Wáng Lǎosì didn't take this matter to heart.
After all, his wife's family wouldn't support an married woman forever. After a few days, ten days at most, she would be sent back by his in-laws.
Bù Fán frowned slightly.
He could guess Wáng Lǎosì's attitude to some extent. It seemed that without a harsher lesson, Wáng Lǎosì wouldn't know he was wrong.
After that, the villagers dispersed, and Bù Fán and Èr Gǒu returned to the private school.
"Thank you, Teacher, for saving my mother just now!" Èr Gǒu knew that if the teacher hadn't arrived in time, his mother would likely have been taken away by those bad guys.
"You're welcome. It's what I should do!" Bù Fán patted Èr Gǒu on the shoulder, "Don't take your father's affairs to heart. I believe he will change in the future!"
"Will he really change?" Èr Gǒu lowered his head, looking somewhat dejected.
"He will. Don't you believe your teacher?" Bù Fán smiled kindly.
"No, I believe you, Teacher!" Èr Gǒu nodded, his eyes full of trust.
...
In the dead of night.
A figure stepped on empty space and slowly landed in Wáng Lǎosì's courtyard, accompanied by a Little White Donkey, with a cute little girl sitting on its back.
"I told you guys, why are you following me instead of sleeping?" Bù Fán said helplessly.
"Gege, you asked that last time. Let's not waste time and get to the point!" Fire Qilin said excitedly.
"Hungry!" The Little White Donkey whinnied.
"Little White says it's hungry too!" Fire Qilin added.
Bù Fán: "??" Why did he feel a sense of familiarity?
Entering Wáng Lǎosì's room.
Approaching the bed and looking at Wáng Lǎosì, who was fast asleep, Fire Qilin said impatiently, "Gege, are you going to use that supernatural ability on Granny Zhou again?"
"Something like that!" Bù Fán's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
He formed a hand seal, pointed a finger, and a ball of light landed on the center of Wáng Lǎosì's forehead.
...
Wáng Lǎosì had a very, very long dream.
In the dream, he transformed into his wife, Liú Shuǐxiù, and watched as his own drunken self came home every day, picking up a fist and striking him.
Feeling the bone-chilling pain, Wáng Lǎosì wished he could fight back against his dream self.
But no matter how strong he was, he couldn't match a man.
As soon as he resisted, his dream self swung his fist and smashed down fiercely.
"No!!" Wáng Lǎosì jolted awake.
He looked at the familiar room. Sunlight streamed in through the window.
"Close call, it was just a dream!" Wáng Lǎosì wiped the cold sweat from his brow and let out a long sigh. His peripheral vision unconsciously glanced at his chest, where two large mounds seemed about to burst out of his inner clothing.
"How did they get so big overnight? And so soft?" Wáng Lǎosì grasped the two large mounds with his hands and squeezed them, completely stunned.
Then, he noticed his hands.
These were not the hands of a man, but a girl's hands.
Wáng Lǎosì suddenly remembered something and rushed to the bronze mirror.
Looking at his wife's reflection in the mirror.
"Ah!" A scream echoed.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Èr Gǒu ran in from outside. Seeing his mother slumped on the ground, he quickly went forward to ask.
"Èr Gǒu, I've turned into your mother!" Wáng Lǎosì said, his face pale.
Èr Gǒu's small head was filled with question marks.
He found it suddenly difficult to understand what his mother was saying.
"Mother, what you're saying doesn't make sense to me?" Èr Gǒu scratched his head.
"No, no, I must be dreaming!" Wáng Lǎosì's face was filled with panic. He pinched himself hard. A bone-piercing pain shot up his arm, making him grit his teeth.
"Mother, what are you doing? Why are you pinching yourself?" Èr Gǒu quickly pulled Wáng Lǎosì's hand away.
"How can this not be a dream?" Wáng Lǎosì grabbed Èr Gǒu's shoulder, "Èr Gǒu, tell me, am I dreaming?"
"Mother, what are you talking about?" Èr Gǒu's shoulders ached from being grabbed.
"What madness is this, you woman, early in the morning?" Wáng Lǎosì saw a man exactly like him walk in from outside.
Goosebumps rose all over his body.
If he had become his wife, then who was this man in front of him?
Could it be Liú Shuǐxiù?
"Èr Gǒu, it's time to go to the private school!" The man glanced at Èr Gǒu.
"Oh! But you can't hit my mother!" Èr Gǒu looked at his own mother.
"Alright, alright!" The man said impatiently.
After Èr Gǒu left the room.
Wáng Lǎosì, filled with terror, ran up to himself, "Liú Shuǐxiù, is that you!"
"Are you crazy, woman? What nonsense are you talking?" The man glanced at Wáng Lǎosì indifferently, his gaze finally fixing on the two large mounds on Wang Laosì's chest.
"What do you want?" Wáng Lǎosì felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively recoiled.
"What do I want? You know very well!" Looking at the smile on the man's face, Wáng Lǎosì could understand what it meant.
"Don't come any closer! I'm not Liú Shuǐxiù, I'm Wáng Lǎosì!" Wáng Lǎosì said in terror.
"What nonsense are you spouting, woman? You're Wáng Lǎosì, and who am I? Could it be that you were hit silly last night?" The man seemed a little confused by his wife's words, but seeing his wife's shy demeanor, it ignited a surge of lust and excitement within him.
Chapter 66: Your Illness Is Called Delusional Schizophrenia
"Don't come any closer!" Staring at the smile on the face of the man who looked exactly like him, Wáng Lǎosì's hair stood on end. He grabbed the scissors on the table and said tremblingly,
"I am Wáng Lǎosì, I am not Liú Shuǐxiù, you can't come over!"
"If you have the guts, stab me, and I'll break your legs!" The man was not afraid and immediately pounced. Wáng Lǎosì's expression was terrified, and he waved the scissors in his hand.
"Riiip!" With a flash of cold light from the scissors, it grazed the man's abdomen. Fortunately, the man was quick-witted and retracted his abdomen, so the scissors only cut a slit in his clothes.
"You good-for-nothing Liú Shuǐxiù, you actually dared to stab me!" The man was completely enraged and slapped Wáng Lǎosì across the face.
"Slap!" The sound echoed. Wáng Lǎosì's head buzzed from the impact. He sat on the ground in a daze.
But before he could react, the man, who looked exactly like him, unbuckled his belt and, like a beast released from its cage, lunged at Wáng Lǎosì.
"Don't think I won't touch you just because the Village Chief protects you! Let's see how I deal with you today!"
...
After an unknown amount of time.
Wáng Lǎosì's eyes were vacant, staring at the roof beam. He lay on the table like a piece of dead meat, his eyes devoid of color.
"It's not the first time, why are you still like an unmarried girl? Anyone who didn't know would think I beat you again just now!" The man on the side pulled up his pants, "Get up quickly! Why are you still lying there? I'm hungry, hurry up and cook for me, do you want to starve me to death!" Saying this, he kicked the dead fish-like Wáng Lǎosì with his foot.
Cook?
Wáng Lǎosì had no will to live. He turned to look at the man who looked exactly like him.
A dream!
It must be a dream!
Everything just now was a dream!
"You won't even listen to my words now? Are you unhappy with how I dealt with you just now!" Seeing the identical man raise his arm, Wáng Lǎosì instinctively felt a trace of fear, and his whole body suddenly trembled.
Scenes of being beaten flashed in his mind.
And the suffering he had just experienced.
"I'll do it, I'll do it!" Wáng Lǎosì, regardless of his sore body, enduring the pain in his thighs, tremblingly walked towards the kitchen.
"Truly a cheapskate who deserves to be beaten!" The man grumbled.
Wáng Lǎosì trembled all over.
Is this person still him?
No!
This person is definitely not him.
He would never be so mean to Liú Shuǐxiù!
Nor would he be so rough.
This person must be impersonating him, and he is the real Wáng Lǎosì.
"Hurry up!!" The man roared.
Scared, Wáng Lǎosì quickly went to the kitchen, heated the steamed buns, and served them with pickled vegetables.
"Dragging your feet!" The man glared at Wáng Lǎosì impatiently, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of pickled vegetable, put it in his mouth, and took a large bite of the steamed bun.
As soon as Wáng Lǎosì sat down, the man suddenly became angry and slammed the table heavily.
"What is this? You can sit while I eat?"
Wáng Lǎosì instinctively stood up abruptly. The fear and dread in his heart resurfaced.
He couldn't understand why he was so afraid of the person in front of him.
"You don't need to cook for me this afternoon. I have some business to attend to in town. I'm telling you, absolutely do not tell the Village Chief that I went to town again, otherwise, I won't let you off!"
Listening to the man's fierce words, Wáng Lǎosì suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
Wasn't this what he had warned Liú Shuǐxiù two months ago?\n\nI recall back then it was because he got drunk and beat his wife, and later the village chief found out, leading the old village chief, Wáng Chángguì, and a group of villagers to his home.
To quell the public anger, he had no choice but to casually promise not to gamble, not to drink, and not to beat his wife anymore.
But he never really took it to heart. In less than two days, he went to the gambling house again and warned his wife not to tell the village chief.
"You can't go to the gambling house!"
Wáng Lǎosì quickly stopped him, thinking that in two months, he would lose everything and even use his wife to pay off his debts.
"Are you telling me what to do?"
The man glared fiercely at Wáng Lǎosì.
Wáng Lǎosì shivered in fear.
This was a deep-seated fear.
"You'd better not tell the village chief or the old village chief about my trip to town, or you'll regret it!"
Looking at the man in front of him, who looked exactly like him, with fierce eyes and a lewd smile, Wáng Lǎosì couldn't help but clench his legs, feeling disgusted while also terrified.
"Not to mention, that was quite something! Tonight, when I get back..."
Seeing Wáng Lǎosì's frightened demeanor like a startled little white donkey, the man laughed heartily and left.
"No!"
Wáng Lǎosì didn't want to experience that inhuman ordeal again, so he quickly lay down on the bed.
"I must be dreaming, I must be dreaming!"
Perhaps due to exhaustion, Wáng Lǎosì unknowingly fell asleep.
When he woke up again, it was already dusk. Wáng Lǎosì still stared at 'her' in the bronze mirror, unable to believe it.
"What's going on?"
Wáng Lǎosì was about to cry.
What on earth had happened?
Why was he still in his wife's appearance?
"Mom, what's wrong? Dad, did he hit you again? I'll go tell the village chief right away!"
Èr Gǒu returned from tutoring, saw his crying mother, his young face filled with anger.
Hearing his son's concerned words, Wáng Lǎosì felt a little better.
"That's right, find the village chief! The village chief is the most knowledgeable person in the village, he will definitely know!Wáng Lǎosì suddenly thought of something and stood up with a 'soar' and ran outside.
"Mom, where are you going?"
Èr Gǒu chased after him.
"Èr Gǒu, stay at home!"
Wáng Lǎosì ran far away without looking back.
...
Arriving at the village chief's house.
At this moment, Bù Fán was sitting under a peach tree reading a yellowed ancient book, the Fire Qilin was fiddling with food in the kitchen, and the Little White Donkey was dozing in the yard.
"Village chief, you must help me!"
Wáng Lǎosì ran into the yard and immediately burst into tears.
"Aunt, what are you doing? Why are you crying for no reason? Did Uncle Wáng Four beat you again?" Bù Fán quickly helped Wáng Lǎosì up.
"Village chief, listen to me, I'm not my wife, no, I'm not my wife Liú Shuǐxiù, I am Wáng Lǎosì."
Wáng Lǎosì didn't care about anything else and poured out the story like beans.
"Aunt, are you making up a story?!" Bù Fán looked bewildered.
"Village chief, I'm telling the truth, I really am Wáng Lǎosì! I don't know what happened! I slept, and I became my wife!" Wáng Lǎosì cried.
"Alright, alright, don't get excited. I've seen this condition in medical books!" Bù Fán comforted him.
"Really?!"
Wáng Lǎosì stopped crying and felt a little excited.
As expected, the young village chief was the most knowledgeable person in the village.
Bù Fán nodded.
"This illness you have is called delusional schizophrenia!"
Chapter 67 If Only I Were Wáng Lǎosì
"What? Schizophrenia?"
Wáng Lǎosì was dumbfounded. He suddenly realized he didn't understand a single word.
"Simply put, you've been under too much stress, which has caused you to have a hallucination, making you believe you are not yourself!" Bù Fán explained simply.
"No, no, this isn't a hallucination, it's real! Village chief, it's real!" Wáng Lǎosì shook his head vigorously.
"How about this, Aunt, let's do an experiment!"
Wáng Lǎosì didn't understand what an experiment was, but he saw Bù Fán take out a copper coin, thread a string through its center, and then swing it back and forth in front of Wáng Lǎosì.
"Aunt, don't speak, just watch the copper coin quietly!"
Wáng Lǎosì's eyes followed the swinging coin. Before long, his eyes became unfocused.
Immediately, a voice came, "Think about the past."
Wáng Lǎosì's mind was suddenly filled with scenes.
None of these scenes were good.
All day long, 'she' worked from dawn till dusk, washing clothes, cooking, cleaning the house, and even working in the fields.
Yet, even so, when he lost money gambling and got drunk, he would beat 'her', and sometimes, when he was in high spirits, he would drag 'her' into the room and ravage her.
The only happy thing was Èr Gǒu's concern for 'her'.
"Snap!"
A snapping sound instantly pulled Wáng Lǎosì back to reality.
"What did you see just now?" Bù Fán asked.
"I saw myself beating my wife!" Wáng Lǎosì said with his head down.
"No, no, that wasn't you beating your wife, but that you yourself were the one being beaten!" Bù Fán shook his head.
"But..."
Wáng Lǎosì wanted to explain.
But he didn't know how to explain.
Because those past memories indeed belonged to 'her', Liú Shuǐxiù.
"Alas, Aunt, the reason you fantasize about being your husband, Wáng Lǎosì, is because your husband caused you severe psychological trauma.
Therefore, your subconscious strongly desires to become him, to become the one who hurt you," Bù Fán sighed.
Wáng Lǎosì fell silent.
Was it true what the village chief said?
Was he actually Liú Shuǐxiù, and Liú Shuǐxiù was him?
But he felt that things weren't as the village chief described.
"Aunt, you can tell me about this, but you absolutely cannot tell any outsiders, or it could bring about a fatal disaster!" Bù Fán warned.
"Why?" Wáng Lǎosì was stunned.
"There was someone in the next village with symptoms similar to yours. He said he wasn't from this era but had traveled from the future, where there were flying iron blocks and running iron boxes.
Think about it, how can iron blocks fly and run, right?" Bù Fán asked.
Wáng Lǎosì nodded.
Isn't that foolish?
How could such heavy iron blocks fly?
"What happened to that person later?" Wáng Lǎosì grasped the key point.
"Alas, no one believed him. They thought he was possessed by mountain spirits and monsters. The people in that village, afraid they would be harmed by the mountain spirits and monsters, burned him to death.
But I heard he was a scholar who loved collecting strange books. I suppose after reading too many such books, he developed schizophrenia just like you!"
Bù Fán walked with his hands behind his back, shaking his head and sighing, "A living person was burned to death by ignorance."
Wáng Lǎosì's hair stood on end as he heard this. "Which neighboring village? I've never heard of this."
Bù Fán shook his head. "Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it didn't happen. After all, it's not something to be proud of, so the fewer people who know, the better!"
Wáng Lǎosì also thought it made sense.
But thinking about his situation, it was indeed somewhat similar to what the young village chief said about that person.
That person claimed to be from the future, and he also felt like he was from two months later.
"Aunt, don't worry. I am a doctor and a scholar, so I have never believed in such superstitious things!"
Bù Fán waved his hand.
"However, your condition can be serious or minor. You need to pay more attention in the future. I'll prescribe some calming medicine for you later, and you'll be fine in a few days.
But, if Uncle Wáng Four bullies you in the future, don't keep it to yourself. It won't do your condition any good and may even make it worse.
You can come and tell me, and then the old village chief and I will have a good talk with Uncle Wáng Four!"
"I understand!"
Wáng Lǎosì didn't know how he left Bù Fán's house. Bù Fán's words kept echoing in his mind.
Was he really not Wáng Lǎosì, but Liú Shuǐxiù?
Was all this a hallucination?
He returned home without realizing it.
Before he could snap out of his daze, he was met with an angry scolding.
"Not cooking? Where did you go to fool around with some wild man? I'll teach you a lesson!"
Wáng Lǎosì came to his senses and saw the ferocious man, raising his fist as big as a casserole, about to hit him, but Èr Gǒu held him back tightly.
"Dad, Mom is sick today, she went to see the doctor!"
"If Èr Gǒu hadn't stopped me, I wouldn't have spared you! Now get out and cook!" the man roared.
Wáng Lǎosì shivered under his glare.
...
In the following days.
Wáng Lǎosì behaved himself. He didn't dare to say he was Wáng Lǎosì anymore, because he didn't want to end up burned to death like the person the village chief mentioned.
Every day, he worked from dawn till dusk, and sometimes had to endure his husband's inhuman ravages, beatings, and scoldings.
He dared not resist because he couldn't defeat his husband.
He dared not tell the village chief about the beatings.
Because he knew clearly that if he told the village chief, he would only face even more brutal beatings and scolding.
Days passed.
Wáng Lǎosì had already convinced himself that he was Liú Shuǐxiù.
"Damn it, you stupid woman, you don't even know how to make a few noises, making me think I'm messing with a corpse!"
Wáng Lǎosì was expressionless.
He turned to look at the man who was pulling up his pants while muttering curses.
No matter how many times he experienced it, every night was a torment for him.
"I'm going to town. I won't be back tonight!" the man said, glancing at Wáng Lǎosì.
"You can't go! If you go to town to gamble, you'll lose all the family's money!" Wáng Lǎosì suddenly realized something and quickly grabbed the man.
"You damn bitch, you dare to curse me into losing?! I'll beat you to death, you slut!"
The man didn't say another word. He raised his fist and rained blows down on Wáng Lǎosì.
"If I really lose all the money, I'll deal with you!"
The man, viciously, kicked the Wáng Lǎosì lying on the ground and strode away.
Wáng Lǎosì felt the piercing pain all over his body.
His eyes were filled with ashes.
If only he were really Wáng Lǎosì.
Because if he were Wáng Lǎosì, he would definitely not beat his wife, but cherish and pity her.
As this thought arose.
Wáng Lǎosì was stunned.
Why would he have such a thought?
Perhaps.
The village chief was right.
It was all his imagination.
He wasn't Wáng Lǎosì, but Liú Shuǐxiù, who was beaten by her husband every day.
Two clear tears rolled down Wáng Lǎosì's eyes.
Chapter 68 Vast Expanse Dragon Transformation Technique
The next day.
Upon hearing that people from the gambling house had come to collect debts, Wáng Lǎosì was calm and did not panic.
Because in his dream, the village chief and the villagers would save him.
Looking at his husband, who was always fierce towards him, now acting like a fawning dog in front of the gambling house people.
Wáng Lǎosì gave a self-mocking laugh.
This trash of a man.
He only dared to be fierce towards his wife and son.
"Alright, take the person away!"
The burly man from the gambling house waved his hand, and four men immediately came up and grabbed Wáng Lǎosì tightly.
"What do you want?"
Wáng Lǎosì panicked inwardly. He looked at the villagers around him, who were all watching the spectacle indifferently.
"What else? Your husband lost you to us! From now on, you belong to our gambling house!" the burly man laughed heartily.
"Wife, don't worry, I'll redeem you when I have saved enough money!" the previously fierce husband said with a fawning smile.
"Impossible, I'll wait for the village chief to come!"
Wáng Lǎosì was in a state of panic.
Why was this different from his dream?
And why hadn't the village chief come to save him yet?
"Help!"
Wáng Lǎosì cried out loudly for help, struggling with his hands, but the strength of a woman was no match for four strong men.
Thus, he was thrown into the carriage.
At this moment, Wáng Lǎosì was filled with dread.
Where were the people from the gambling house taking him?
They wouldn't take him to that dirty place, would they?
Suddenly, the carriage stopped beside a grove of trees.
"What do you want?"
The carriage curtain was lifted. Looking at the eight muscular, burly men, Wáng Lǎosì shrunk back.
"Before taking you back, we have to check!"
A burly man's eyes lewdly scanned Wáng Lǎosì, and the surrounding strong men showed the same expressions.
"Don't come near me!"
Wáng Lǎosì's voice trembled. He couldn't even handle one person, let alone eight?
The eight burly men exchanged glances, revealed smiles that only men would understand, and rushed towards Wáng Lǎosì.
...
"No!"
Wáng Lǎosì was covered in sweat and sat up abruptly, panting heavily.
"Where is this?"
Wáng Lǎosì suddenly noticed his surroundings, which were pitch black, and was startled.
Isn't this his room?
Could it be?
Suddenly, remembering something.
Wáng Lǎosì quickly touched his chest.
It wasn't large or soft.
He then reached down to his crotch.
Everything was still there.
"So it was just a dream!"
Wáng Lǎosì wiped the cold sweat from his brow and swallowed.
But thinking about everything that had happened in the dream, his body trembled.
Especially the scene of the eight burly men pouncing on him.
It was too realistic!
...
Meanwhile.
Under the moonlight, Bù Fán was strolling in mid-air, with the Little White Donkey beside him. A little girl was sitting on the Little White Donkey's back.
"Gege, the dream Wang Laosi had just now must have been created by you!" Fire Qilin said, as if he understood something.
Bù Fán smiled, but did not answer.
"But Wang Laosi's dream should have ended when he regretted and shed tears. Why did you make him experience those strange things afterwards?" Fire Qilin asked, confused.
"It's the first time using this cultivation technique, so some minor mistakes are normal!" Bù Fán coughed dryly.
"Really?"
Fire Qilin tilted his small head, blinking his big eyes.
"Why ask so many questions!"
Bù Fán immediately patted Fire Qilin's small head.
"Gege, you hit my head again. You clearly said civilized people use their mouths, not their hands. You lied!" Fire Qilin pouted, his eyes tearing up as he accused.
"Did I hit you?" Bù Fán looked confused.
"Yes!"
"Then you must be dreaming!"
"(￢_￢)"
...
The next morning.
Bù Fán came to the private school to teach.
Èr Gǒu happily ran over, his small face very excited. "Teacher, do you know? My dad made breakfast for me this morning and said he's going to pick up Mom!"
"That's good news!" Bù Fán smiled. "It means your dad has mended his ways."
"Mmm-hmm!"
Èr Gǒu nodded a few times, his small face beaming with joy.
In the afternoon, Wáng Lǎosì specially hired a donkey cart to pick up his wife, and the news quickly spread throughout the village. The villagers didn't think much of it.
But later, when they learned that Wáng Lǎosì had knelt at his in-laws' house and made vows to the heavens to bring his wife back, many villagers were puzzled.
Was this still the Wáng Lǎosì they knew?
After all, in their perception, Wáng Lǎosì was not the kind of person who cherished his wife.
For a time, there was much discussion in the village.
Some villagers guessed that Wáng Lǎosì had truly repented due to his gambling debts, while others thought he was just putting on a show and would revert to his old ways in a few days.
But regardless of what they said, Wáng Lǎosì bringing his wife back became a hot topic of discussion in the village.
Bù Fán heard about these matters and pondered.
It seemed Wáng Lǎosì had truly repented.
...
The next morning.
As Bù Fán rode his Little White Donkey to the private school, he happened to meet Wáng Lǎosì's wife.
"Aunt, are you going to the river to wash clothes?"
Seeing Wáng Lǎosì's wife carrying a wooden tub filled with clothes, Bù Fán dismounted from the Little White Donkey and greeted her with a smile.
"Yes, I figured the clothes at home needed washing, so I brought them out to do them," Wang Lǎosì's wife replied.
"I heard from Èr Gǒu that Uncle has changed a lot recently. I wonder if it's true?" Bù Fán asked, feigning ignorance.
"It's true, village chief. You wouldn't believe it, Old Four not only cooks but also wants to help me with the laundry. Isn't that something a man wouldn't do?" Liú Shuǐxiù's wife said.
Although her mouth was full of complaints, her face was filled with happiness, showing no sign of displeasure.
"That's great! It means Uncle Wáng Four cherishes Aunt now!" Bù Fán teased with a smile.
"It's okay, he's gentler than before!"
Wang Lǎosì's wife seemed to recall something, and a blush instantly appeared on her face.
Seeing this, Bù Fán breathed a sigh of relief.
Close call, he's still straight.
He had been worried if Wáng Lǎosì's dreams might have turned him gay.
Now, seeing Wáng Lǎosì's wife's reaction, he felt somewhat relieved.
However, even if Wáng Lǎosì had been turned gay, he could always create another dream to turn him straight.
After all, he had watched plenty of movies in his past life, and borrowing from one wouldn't be a problem.
After chatting with Wáng Lǎosì's wife for a while longer, Bù Fán took his leave, citing that he had to go to the private school.
[You have successfully changed a problematic villager, Reward: Peerless cultivation technique, Vast Expanse Dragon Transformation Technique]
[Vast Expanse Dragon Transformation Technique: Upon activation, strength will be greatly increased. Friendly reminder: Activating the Vast Expanse Dragon Transformation Technique will cause certain physical changes.]
What kind of physical changes are referred to? However, judging from the description, the Vast Expanse Dragon Transformation Technique is similar to the Star Body Tempering Art, with one being a passive skill and the other an active skill.