Chapter 101: Returning to You

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I used to believe that a person’s mouth could lie, but their eyes would not.

Yet after all I’ve been through, I no longer dare trust even a glance. I looked at him bitterly and said, “For example, if I asked you to tell me everything right now, would you?”

Chen Dongfang nodded and said, “I understand. One day, all truths will come to light.”

After he spoke, Chen Dongfang embraced the girl and got into a car, speeding away. Li Qing still stood there watching me. My elder brother patted my shoulder and said, “Let’s go.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Compared to Chen Dongfang’s complexity, I was somewhat prepared. But Li Qing leaving me alone in that underground ancient temple truly caught me off guard. I always thought that while Li Qing was Chen Dongfang’s confidant, he was more like a martial arts fanatic—simple, without guile. But the truth proved he was no blind monk. I, on the other hand, was the real fool, utterly incapable of reading people.

I followed my elder brother and Fatty, three of us bypassing Li Qing and heading straight for the village. I didn’t see One-Eyed Lao Si. At this point, it didn’t matter whether I saw him or not; I didn’t even feel the urge to beat him up anymore, especially in this law-abiding age, where I had no right to lay a hand on an elder. If he intended to harm me, it was probably on Chen Dongfang’s orders. What puzzled me was that both One-Eyed Lao Si and Li Qing knew the secret location of that underground temple. Why didn’t either of them sneak in alone to retrieve the object? Why drag me along? Could it be just to quietly kill me inside without anyone noticing?

As we passed Li Qing, he suddenly called out behind us, “Hey, kid.”

I knew he was calling me, so I turned back and looked at him. “What is it?”

“I know that even if I tell you now, you probably wouldn’t believe me—that your brother only left after he already went ahead. But no matter what I say, it won’t change the fact that I left you behind. I, Li Qing, don’t like owing people anything. You can do whatever you want to me now, as long as it’s not fatal. Because this life isn’t really mine.” Li Qing said.

I hadn’t expected him to say that all of a sudden. But honestly, for him to say this to me gave me some small comfort. At least it proved he was still, damn it, human!

“I believe you.” I didn’t know why, but after holding it in for so long, that was all I could manage to say.

“Thank you.” Li Qing said seriously. So serious that it almost threw me off. But then, with a sudden flick of his wrist, a dagger appeared. He looked at me, smiled broadly—a bright, almost radiant smile.

Then, to my astonishment, he flicked his hand again and stabbed the dagger into his own lower abdomen. He just kept looking at me, still smiling that trademark smile, saying, “I’m returning it to you.”

“Are you crazy? What are you doing?!” I tore a strip of cloth from my shirt and walked over. The moment he stabbed himself, all my resentment toward him vanished instantly, replaced only by worry.

From a distance, Li Qing waved his hand at me. “Don’t come closer. I don’t want to owe you anymore.”

With that, he pulled out the dagger, tore his shirt to bind the wound, then turned and walked in the direction Chen Dongfang had left, waving at me as he went.

I stood there, my emotions tangled. Li Qing was undeniably proud, but his final refusal made me feel that perhaps one day, we might become enemies—and so he didn’t want any lingering ties with me.

At that moment, Fatty came over, patted my shoulder, and handed me a cigarette. He lit it, watching the slightly staggering Li Qing walk away, and said, “Don’t worry. I saw the wound—deep, but it didn’t hit any organs. That’s pretty rare. Didn’t expect Li Qing to be such a man.”

Just then, the door to the small wooden hut suddenly opened. One-Eyed Lao Si stepped out and stood at the threshold, watching us. I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes—was it deep suspicion, resentment, or both?

“You damn bastard, still dare to show your face? Believe it or not, Fatty will kill you!” Fatty waved his fist at him.

One-Eyed Lao Si didn’t move. He simply watched us.

“Let’s go.” I tugged at Fatty. He didn’t want to get into a fight with the old man either, so we returned to the village.

My elder brother rarely came back to the village. I thought he would part ways with us at the village entrance and return alone to Sanlitun, but this time he silently followed us. As we entered the village, he became increasingly strange. I asked him a few questions, but he didn’t answer, and his entire face looked darkened.

Even Fatty tugged at me and whispered, “What’s wrong with your brother? He looks like someone owes him five million.”

“How would I know? He was fine just a moment ago. Who knows what changed?” I replied.

Though Fatty and I found it odd, we dared not press further. My elder brother’s face had grown so dark, so cold his eyes seemed capable of freezing ice.

Suddenly, I recalled what Old Lady Huangpizi said before Fatty left—that the one who killed my father was the City God, a figure from the realm of spirits. My elder brother had said he didn’t believe it at the time, but I could sense that deep down, he did. I quickly asked Fatty, “Fatty, is the City God powerful?”

“A spirit from the underworld, overseeing the dead with a mortal body—how could he not be powerful? But why are you asking now?” Fatty replied.

“If my brother fights the City God, how likely is he to win?” I asked.

“Hard to say. Your brother is strong, but he might not be a match. Could it be?” Fatty said.

“No doubt about it. My brother is very likely going to fight the City God.” I said.

“Holy hell! This is going to be a big show! The battle of the century! Damn, I gotta see this!” Fatty was the type who loved drama and excitement. He was practically bouncing around, ready to dress in a bikini and cheer, though with his figure, he’d probably get beaten up.

“Enough of that,” I said. If even a cocky guy like Fatty said someone was powerful, then they definitely were. No matter how confident I was in my brother, I wouldn’t want him to take such a risk.

I stepped forward and said to my brother, “Brother, forget it.”

“There are some things that can be forgotten, and some things that cannot.” He brushed past me and kept walking.

Fatty and I hurried to catch up. My heart was full of worry, but also a sliver of hope—that my brother would find the City God hiding somewhere in the village. Given the City God’s identity, it would be hard to uphold justice through mortal laws, but the vengeance for my father must be settled.

As we walked, I realized something was off. My brother was heading home. Fatty said, “Yezi, maybe you’re wrong. He’s just going home to visit family. You think he’s going to fight the City God?”

“Better if that’s true.” I breathed a sigh of relief.

But Fatty suddenly exclaimed, “Fatty just got it! He’s coming back to settle his affairs first!”

“Settle your ass! Can’t you say something nice for once?” I snapped at Fatty.

By then, my brother had reached the doorstep. Fatty and I approached. He turned his head and looked into his eyes. I was startled—his eyes were bloodshot, terrifying to behold. He didn’t look at me but at Fatty and said, “What comes next is family business. You should leave.”

“Fatty just wants to watch. I promise I won’t say a word,” Fatty grinned cheekily.

“Go!” my brother suddenly raised his voice.

Fatty’s face fell, then he pointed his finger and said, “Sun Zhongmou, don’t be a backstabber!”

Seeing these two about to come to blows, I quickly nudged Fatty and said, “You should go first! Fatty, just do me this favor.”

Only then did Fatty lower his hand, walking away while grumbling, “Sun Zhongmou, don’t think Fatty’s scared of you! I’m doing this for little Yezi. If I didn’t want to watch, you think I’d be here? You think Fatty wants to watch?”

“Say that one more time,” my brother said.

“Fatty said what? One more time? One more time!” Fatty shouted, then took off running, kicking up dust.

After Fatty left, my brother looked back at our front door. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

In the courtyard, my grandfather was smoking dry tobacco.

One puff.

A cough.

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