Chapter 148: Hatred and Investigating the Cause of Death

In the ancestral hall, a large number of people had gathered, every face etched with deep anger.

The white-haired village chief, Yuan Shiyang, leaned on a staff that gleamed with a silvery luster, looking coldly at the coffin in the courtyard.

The coffin sat quietly, as if carrying boundless grief and sorrowful indignation. Inside lay Yuan Yang, the person he valued most.

"Tell me, everyone, what should we do about this?"

Yuan Shiyang took two steps forward, swept his gaze across the crowd, and spoke. His voice was low and majestic, carrying a suppressed fury.

The surrounding members of the Yuan clan shouted:

"This is going too far! It's an utter humiliation!"

"We cannot let this stand!"

"A life for a life! We must make him pay the price!"

Their voices were filled with rage and hatred, as if they wanted to burn everything to ashes.

Of course, some held different views:

"According to the Liu family, the primary responsibility lies with Yuan Yang, and the other party was merely acting in self-defense. Shouldn't we find out the truth first before making a decision?"

This person spoke in a relatively rational tone, attempting to calm the anger of the crowd.

Someone nearby retorted immediately:

"What is there to ask?!"

"No matter what, a member of our Yuan clan is dead! That is a fact!"

"Clan leader, let me lead men out of the village and wipe out that punk named Li Chao!"

His words were charged with impulsiveness and absolute determination.

The people around chimed in:

"That's right!"

"Let everyone know the consequences of offending the Yuan clan!"

The emotions of the crowd grew increasingly agitated, resembling a volcano about to erupt. The scene was filled with seething anger and high tension.

Clang!

Yuan Shiyang forcefully thrust his staff onto the ground. Striking the bluestone pavement, it sent a shower of sparks flying. The crisp impact echoed through the ancestral hall like a thunderclap.

The surroundings instantly grew quiet. He spoke slowly:

"Though Ah Yang could be somewhat arrogant, he was never a rash man."

"Under normal circumstances, once the mission was over and his injuries healed, he certainly would have returned. But this time, he changed his plans and acted on his own; there must have been something else going on."

Yuan Shiyang's gaze was deep and solemn, as if pondering something profound.

"Besides, do not forget that the one called Li Chao not only killed Ah Yang, but also wiped out the entire Blazing Fire Sect."

"That kind of strength is certainly extraordinary!"

His words instantly silenced the intensely furious villagers.

That was true! A trace of apprehension welled up in everyone's hearts. Reminded by the clan leader, they finally came to their senses. Yuan Yang was the strongest expert in Yuan Family Village, and even after joining forces with the Blazing Fire Sect, he had still been eliminated. Such combat prowess was definitely not something ordinary people could match.

Shock and lingering fear appeared on their faces.

"Are we just going to let this go, then?"

After waiting a few minutes, an unreconciled villager asked again, his face full of lingering resentment and fury.

Yuan Shiyang shook his head and said:

"Someone from our village has died; of course we cannot just let it go!"

"But we must not act rashly right now!"

"For now, we only have the biased word of the Huaxi Liu family; we have no idea what actually happened at the time!"

Yuan Shiyang's tone was solemn and steady. Having spoken, he swept his gaze around, finally letting it rest on an elderly man not far away:

"Chonghe, you have always been steady in your affairs. Take a trip out, find out the whole story from beginning to end!"

"Then the village will make its decision!"

His gaze was filled with trust and expectation.

Sixty-something Yuan Chonghe nodded in agreement.

...

Meanwhile, inside the taxi.

Li Chao and Liu Dan sat together in the back row. The afternoon sun was warm. The journey from Huaxi City to Lijiaz堡 took over two hours, and shortly after the car started moving, both of them began to feel drowsy.

Li Chao settled comfortably, letting Liu Dan lie down with her head in his lap. Fearing she might catch a chill, Li Chao thoughtfully took a coat from his luggage and draped it over her. The jacket gently covered Liu Dan, radiating tenderness and care.

Rocked by the gentle sway of the car, Li Chao gradually drifted off to sleep as well.

After a while, Li Chao woke up, rubbed his eyes, and realized they were almost at Lijiazui. A trace of sleepy haze still lingered in his eyes. With nothing better to do, he closed his eyes and projected his spiritual consciousness into the ancient tower within his mind, going straight to the second floor.

He checked the scale value on the light barrier leading to the third floor.

Hah.

Excitement surged within him after checking.

Though he hadn't looked at it for a few days, the scale value had advanced significantly. At this rate, it would take at most ten days or so to enter the third floor of the ancient tower. His heart was filled with anticipation and excitement.

Outside of his spiritual consciousness, the taxi had already arrived at the entrance of Lijiazui Village.

The driver brought the car to a smooth stop and turned around to look.

And then, the driver froze completely.

In his line of sight, Li Chao was leaning back against the seat with his head tilted up, a look of satisfaction and excitement on his face. Meanwhile, Liu Dan was lying across Li Chao's lap, and due to some shifting, the coat completely covered her head while... moving up and down.

Hiss!

The driver drew in a sharp breath.

His mind instantly conjured up some R-rated imagery. The driver's expression turned bizarre in an instant, his eyes filled with astonishment and awkwardness.

Amidst the taxi driver's strange glances, Li Chao paid the fare. Carrying their luggage, Li Chao and Liu Dan headed back into Lijiazui.

Every time he left and returned, there was always a brand-new feeling. The first thing that came into view was the village clinic. Because Sun Xinglin had arrived, the clinic's reputation was growing day by day. Five long queues had formed outside. The lines wound back and forth, the people's faces filled with anticipation and anxiety.

Seeing Li Chao return, Yuxin hurried out to welcome him.

"What's going on here?" Li Chao asked with curiosity, his gaze shifting back and forth between the crowd and Yuxin.

Yuxin explained:

"This is an improvement Old Sun and I discussed and implemented."

"Emulating hospital registration systems, we've divided the clinic into five consultation rooms."

"Minor ailments are handled by the disciples, more complex ones I take care of, and only the most difficult, severe cases get registered under Old Sun, so that everyone isn't crowding together."

A trace of pride graced Yuxin's face.

Is that so?

Li Chao smiled:

"Not bad. This is great."

With that, he looked toward the construction site nearby. This was the new location for the medical center. Back when Li Chao learned that Sun Xinglin was coming, he had handed the task of expanding the medical center to Zhou Shaofeng.

Work was currently proceeding at a feverish pace. It was estimated that it would be ready for use in a month or two at most. By then, it would be much more advanced. Furthermore, it would allow the *Mystic Heaven Medical Classic* to be further promoted, making it even easier to earn experience points.

The construction site roared with machinery, and the busy figures of workers shuttled back and forth.

Of course, transforming the clinic into a medical center meant there were other things that needed changing. Pondering for a moment, Li Chao looked at Yuxin and said:

"Now that Sun Xinglin and the others are at the clinic, you don't need to treat patients yourself when you're free."

"Go look for some books on management later. Put your energy into that."

Li Chao's eyes were filled with trust and expectation.

Management?

Yuxin was momentarily stunned.

Liu Dan beside her reacted instantly, smiling as she said:

"Xiaochao, are you trying to make Yuxin the president?"

"Aren't you being a bit too partial?"

Liu Dan's face carried a teasing smile.

Yuxin finally came to her senses and said somewhat uneasily:

"Xiaochao, would that even work?"

"I've never studied management."

Yuxin's face was full of worry and a lack of confidence.

"It'll be troublesome if I end up making mistakes."

Li Chao replied:

"Why wouldn't it work?"

"Just figure it out as you go along."

"Don't worry, just be bold and do it."

"With me here, you can toss things around however you like."

Li Chao's tone was firm and powerful. In a television drama, this would be the standard overbearing-CEO persona.

Having said that, he turned to Liu Dan and added:

"Both of you are the same."

"Later on, I'll hand the production base over to you."

Li Chao's gaze was full of anticipation.

Liu Dan puffed out her proud chest and laughed:

"Have you compared us? Are you sure we're the same?"

A hint of provocation danced in Liu Dan's eyes.

Hiss!

Li Chao immediately understood, a mischievous grin spreading across his face:

"Shall we compare them all together tonight?"

"And see if there's any difference?"

Li Chao's smile was laced with cunning.

Yuxin's face turned beet red all at once:

"You two are getting more and more shameless by the day."

A hint of reproach laced Yuxin's voice.

Liu Dan chuckled:

"Anyway, there are no outsiders here."

"Besides, this guy has been eyeing it for a long time."

"How about it? Shall we satisfy him today?"

Liu Dan's words grew increasingly bold.

A secret wave of joy rippled through Li Chao's heart. The mental image of three people in one bed was stimulating just to think about. A flicker of anticipation flashed in his eyes.

Just as they were talking, a tall figure walked over from afar.

It was Luo Su.

Seeing Li Chao, she quickly jogged over with small steps:

"Brother Xiaochao, you're back?"

"Are you tired?"

"Come inside and rest for a bit."

Luo Su's voice was clear and melodious, brimming with concern.

Liu Dan looked at Li Chao and laughed out loud:

"You heartbreaker!"

"How did you manage to hook another beauty so quickly?"

Liu Dan's smile was laced with banter. Liu Dan's trip for further studies and Luo Su's arrival at the clinic had missed each other by a margin, so she wasn't very clear on the relationship between Luo Su and Li Chao.

But judging from the current situation...

It seemed... quite extraordinary!

Li Chao was about to explain when Luo Su spoke up first:

"Sister, don't misunderstand."

"I am Brother Xiaochao's maid."

Luo Su's voice was soft and shy.

Liu Dan teased:

"The kind that warms the bed?"

Curiosity filled Liu Dan's eyes.

A blush crept across Luo Su's face, and she lowered her head to whisper:

"Actually... that's not entirely out of the question!"

Luo Su's voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz.

Liu Dan smiled:

"In grammar, a double negative expresses a strong affirmative."

Liu Dan's smile grew even brighter.

"Haha, Sister Dan, your language skills deserve a full score!"

Li Chao joked.

However, upon realizing that an extra person like Luo Su had entered the picture, a subtle shift occurred in Liu Dan's heart. Looking at Li Chao, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile:

"Since you just got back, you should get some rest first and save your energy for later."

Of course, Liu Dan wasn't actually feeling jealous. Back in Wannanshi City, Li Chao had spent a long time accompanying her. Now that he had finally returned, she figured it was best to let him spend some close time with Yuxin and this little maid first; after all, favors should be distributed evenly.

Li Chao actually wanted to say that his energy was overflowing right now, but... looking at Luo Su standing nearby, he really couldn't bring himself to say it. Besides, the clinic was currently too small and entirely inconvenient.

Sigh, forget it, he'd just have to endure for now.

After leaving the clinic, Li Chao led Liu Dan deeper into the village.

And as they walked, lo and behold, they caught sight of a particularly eye-catching building—a three-story villa!

Minimalist yet majestic, fashionable and trendy, it stood out among the mountain village houses like a crane among chickens. At that moment, several workers were busy putting the finishing touches on the landscaping at the entrance.

"Oh wow! This is gorgeous!"

Liu Dan couldn't help but gasp in admiration, stars practically sparkling in her eyes as she fell in love with the villa at first sight.

Seeing her excited expression, Li Chao couldn't help but smile:

"If you like it, I'll reserve a room for you when the time comes; there are plenty of rooms anyway."

"Alright, deal!"

Liu Dan agreed readily. Having traveled extensively, her personality was far bolder than Yuxin's. Besides, she was already divorced; if she liked someone and wanted to be with him now, there was nothing to hesitate about. Moreover, given Li Chao's current standing in the village, probably no one dared to gossip behind his back.

Thus, Li Chao took Liu Dan on a tour of the villa.

He hadn't been back for quite a while, and the interior decoration was nearly complete. Once it was cleaned up and some furniture was added, it would be ready to move into.

As for formaldehyde? That was no issue at all. First, Zhou Shaofeng had used the highest-grade decoration materials, guaranteed to be harmless to human health. Second, multiple formaldehyde removal treatments had already been performed, and a fresh-air system had been installed to boot.

One could say Zhou Shaofeng had put even more care into this house than he would his own.

After the tour, Li Chao happily escorted Liu Dan home.

Following that, Li Chao strolled over to the production base on the back mountain.

Well, needless to say, ever since signing the long-term supply agreement with Jiangnan Chun Restaurant, the villagers' enthusiasm had been through the roof, like they'd been injected with chicken blood. The base was bustling with prosperity, a sight that warmed one's heart.

Standing there, Li Chao wore a smile as bright as a blooming flower.

Just two months ago, this place had been nothing more than barren land, with everyone worrying about their livelihoods.

And now?

Through his own efforts, everyone was living a good life, and in the future, it would only get better!

This could be considered fulfilling his wish of transforming the environment and bringing prosperity to the region.

Looking at this vibrant scene, a profound sense of achievement burst within Li Chao's heart.

...

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

Luo Su, acting as the master chef, had prepared a table full of delicacies. Li Chao, Sun Xinglin, Yuxin, Liu Dan, Sun Peng, and Zhou Shaofeng had all gathered. Sitting together under the high-hanging moon, with a gentle breeze blowing, they chatted, laughed, and raised their glasses in a toast.

Holding his wine glass, Li Chao looked at these familiar faces, the corners of his mouth lifting naturally.

No matter how nice the outside world was, it couldn't compare to the ease and comfort of home.

Because this was his true home!

Here were the people he cared for most!

Moonlight like water gently spilled over everyone, adding a sense of serenity and beauty to the cozy scene.

...

After seeing everyone off, Li Chao practiced his cultivation for a while before lying down on the bed.

Yuxin returned after her shower and slipped in beside him.

Initially feeling a bit sleepy, Li Chao instantly perked up the moment he felt the softness beside him. The two embraced, wrapped in absolute sweetness.

"You scoundrel, didn't Liu Dan fill you up in the city?"

Yuxin asked with a playful pout.

Li Chao chuckled:

"My appetite is huge, you know; ordinary portions just don't fill me up!"

With that, he winked at Yuxin, his smile carrying a hint of mischief.

As he spoke, Li Chao pressed his body closer.

Yuxin pointed toward the next room and whispered:

"Don't forget, there's a little girl right next door!"

A hint of worry flickered in her eyes.

Ah, mentioning Luo Su made Li Chao's heart race even faster.

Sensing the change in Li Chao, Yuxin giggled:

"Men! Always eating out of the bowl while looking at the pot! You'd better hurry up and brew some medicinal wine, otherwise I'm afraid your body won't hold up in the future."

Her laughter was laced with teasing.

Hearing this, Li Chao immediately grinned:

"Are you kidding me? The phrase 'won't hold up' doesn't exist in my dictionary."

His tone was brimming with absolute confidence.

Yuxin laughed even harder:

"Great General, why don't you make me beg for mercy first, then we'll talk!"

With that, she shot Li Chao a captivating glance. That smile was simply mesmerizing!

"Alright!"

Li Chao immediately flashed a cunning grin.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Luo Su lay in bed, her hands clutching the blanket tightly as if scorched, her face flushed as red as a ripe apple, practically dripping with blood.

Sigh! It looked like tonight would be another tossing and turning kind of sleepless night!

...

The next morning.

Li Chao woke up from a pleasant dream. Just as he finished breakfast, Zhou Shaofeng came running over like an eager puppy, clutching a stack of neatly printed pictures. He handed them to Li Chao:

"Brother Chao, these are the furnishings I carefully selected for you. Take a look and see if they're to your liking! If you think they're good, I'll have them delivered right to your door immediately."

Expectation filled Zhou Shaofeng's eyes.

Li Chao took the pictures and examined them one by one.

These renderings were practically identical to the actual finished decor, boasting a restoration accuracy of over ninety percent. Even the small ornaments in the corners and the decorative paintings on the walls were designed to absolute perfection.

Those exquisite pictures seemed to vividly unfold his future home right before his eyes.

After looking them over, Li Chao nodded in satisfaction:

"Not bad!"

"Let's go with these!" His tone was full of approval.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaofeng nodded vigorously like a pounding pestle:

"You got it!"

"I'll go arrange for the furniture to be delivered right away. If we're fast, it'll arrive by this afternoon."

"Once everything is properly installed, I'll have the whole house treated for formaldehyde, guaranteeing you can live in absolute comfort!"

Zhou Shaofeng was decisive and full of drive when handling tasks.

Phew!

Li Chao let out a long breath.

The house was finally going to be finished!

From then on, he wouldn't have to squeeze into the cramped clinic anymore. Moreover, by then he would be able to fully enjoy the romantic scenery of two stars accompanying the moon.

Just thinking about it brought a yearning smile to Li Chao's face.

...

After giving his instructions to Zhou Shaofeng, Li Chao briefed Yuxin and Sun Xinglin on several medicinal formulas from the *Mystic Heaven Medical Classic*.

Yuxin didn't think much of it since she had been following Li Chao from the very beginning and was long used to it.

Sun Xinglin, however, looked upon Li Chao as if he were an immortal.

Because he discovered that almost everything Li Chao taught consisted of long-lost, miraculous ancient medical arts. To be honest, he was extremely curious about where Li Chao had learned them. Of course, to Sun Xinglin, respecting one's teacher was paramount. Since Li Chao didn't volunteer the information, he wouldn't dare ask.

Sun Xinglin's eyes were filled with reverence and awe.

At that moment, a long queue had formed outside the clinic entrance. Leaving them to open up and treat patients, Li Chao strolled around the village by himself.

The residential villa was built, the back mountain production base was built, and now only the medical center was still under construction.

Once he turned back and paved the roads in the village, added supporting facilities like schools and supermarkets, Lijiazui would undergo a complete transformation.

Perfect!

Li Chao's heart was filled with wonderful aspirations for the future.

As he strolled along, he happened to run into Liu Dan. Li Chao took the opportunity to bring her to the back mountain production base, having village chief Li Xitian show her around the environment and workflow.

Li Chao had long since mentioned making Liu Dan the financial manager. Leaving the rest of the matters without having to worry himself, seeing her diligent learning made him feel immensely gratified.

Just as he finished handling that, his phone rang.

It was Liu Leela.

"Sister Liu, what's up?"

Li Chao asked with a smile.

Liu Leela said:

"Remember when I told you about establishing a health management group?"

A hint of excitement laced Liu Leela's voice.

"I brought it up with a few friends while dining a few days ago. Today, Tianzheng Group from the provincial capital contacted me, saying they are very optimistic about this project and want to come for an on-site inspection to discuss investment and equity participation!"

Liu Leela spoke at a slightly faster pace, clearly taking this matter very seriously.

Li Chao raised an eyebrow:

"Are we that short on money? Why do they need to take a stake?"

A trace of puzzlement colored Li Chao's tone.

Liu Leela explained:

"Tianzheng Group is a top-ranking major conglomerate in the provincial capital. They have abundant resources and extensive connections—something the Liu family simply cannot compare to!"

"If they can join us, it will save us a tremendous amount of time and energy in terms of promotion and sales!"

"The business world is like a battlefield; having one more powerful helper will allow us to establish our footing much faster!"

Liu Leela patiently explained the stakes involved.

Knowing nothing about business, Li Chao didn't press further.

"I'll leave this entirely in Sister Liu's hands then!"

Li Chao chose to trust Bai Weiwei's judgment.

Liu Leela's laughter was as crisp as silver bells, carrying an irresistible confidence and charm:

"Alright! Tianzheng Group's people will arrive in Kaiyuan County this afternoon. I heard it's the chairman's son himself; I'll go meet him first!"

Her words carried a hint of cunning, as if she were already prepared for an exciting sparring match.

Hanging up the phone, Liu Leela's smile remained on her face, radiant like the morning sun, full of hope and vitality.

Holding his phone, Li Chao frowned slightly, a vortex of mixed emotions in his heart.

He gently tapped the screen, and information about Tianzheng Group flooded the internet like a tide. Real estate, catering, medical care, education... Tianzheng Group's footprints spanned across various industries, resembling an invisible giant hand controlling the pulse of the entire market.

Even Tianzheng Group's relationship with provincial-level leaders was extraordinary; such strength was truly jaw-dropping.

Li Chao silently sighed to himself, realizing that letting Liu Leela handle this matter was undoubtedly the best choice.

He put down his phone, the heavy burden in his heart seemingly lightening instantly.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Huaxi City, a mysterious tracking operation was quietly unfolding.

An old man in plain clothes, Yuan Chonghe, walked with slow and steady steps, as if every stride carried the profound weight of the years. He looked like an ordinary farmer, utterly unremarkable, yet those deep eyes revealed an extraordinary aura.

Yuan Chonghe stopped before an unfinished building. A fierce battle had once taken place here; although the corpses and bloodstains had been cleared away, to a practitioner like him, those subtle traces were as clear as a detailed painting.

He gently reached out, pulling a yellowed piece of paper from his bosom inscribed with a dark red rune.

He bit his finger, letting a single drop of blood fall onto the paper. Instantly, the rune seemed to come alive, flickering with an eerie glow.

Taking a deep breath, he channeled his cultivation, and a ball of flame suddenly burst from his palm. The fire danced in his hand as if it possessed a life of its own, then ignited the piece of paper.

The flame transformed into a small bird, flying into the distance before finally halting mid-air.

Here was where Yuan Yang had met his end.

As the flames burned, black smoke dispersed, forming a blurry human outline in the void. That outline seemed to be whispering something before splitting in two, turning into ash, and vanishing completely.

This scene was hair-raising, as if one had stepped into a mysterious and bizarre world. The look in Yuan Chonghe's eyes grew exceptionally firm.