The Deer and the Cauldron
39 Stepping into the underworld with my head held high

Chen Adou

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In a trance, I felt as if someone was pinching my philtrum. A huge pain made me open my eyes. I saw a group of people surrounding me. Chen Jinnan squatted down and asked with concern,"Little Treasure, what's wrong?" I struggled to get up and said,"I'm fine, I'm fine. I've been very tired these past few days. In addition, I haven't been cultivating properly recently.”"Hai Dafu isn't around anymore, so don't practice martial arts on your own," Chen Jinnan said.”"Thank you, Master," I said. "The incense hall has been set up," Chen Jinnan said."If you're not feeling well, we'll hold the ceremony another day."”I hurriedly said,"It's fine, my disciple is fine, let's start."”

Everyone entered the back hall one after another. I followed behind everyone and looked at Li Shikai. Seeing that he had a guilty expression and lowered his head without saying a word, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart. Perhaps this Li Shikai also likes Rong 'er.

The ceremony began. I knelt in front of the incense table. On the table were the tablets of the Ming Emperor and Zheng Chenggong. The group of people behind me also knelt down. The head of the Lotus Hall, Cai Dezhong, took a piece of paper from the incense table and read the speech according to it. After reading for a long time, I didn't understand a single sentence. This wasn't my fault. I guessed that Lao Cai was reading the eight-legged essay. I, a modern youth who reads fantasy literature all day long, had never seen such a sentence.

As I listened to the Heavenly Book, I started to miss Rong 'er again. Rong 'er originally had a father, a group of brothers from the Heaven and Earth Society, and perhaps a few young admirers. She should have been very happy. But now, her father was dead, her admirers were dead, and the Heaven and Earth Society did not want her anymore. She was all alone and had no one to rely on. No one knew where she had drifted to. She did not know where she was now, whether she had eaten her fill, whether she was wearing warm clothes, and whether anyone would bully her. If she was bullied, who would stand up for her? Who could protect her? The more I thought about it, the more pitiful I felt for Rong 'er. My heart also became more and more sorrowful. For a moment, it was unbearable and I couldn't help but cry.

Everyone was surprised to see me crying. Chen Jinnan walked up and asked softly,"Little Treasure, what's wrong?" I didn't know how to explain, so I said,"When I thought of my past and how I suddenly had so many good brothers and friends today, I was so excited that I couldn't help but cry.”Chen Jinnan was delighted to hear that." Silly child," he said with a smile," you should be laughing. Why are you crying?"”Everyone smiled and looked at me with a very friendly gaze.

Chen Jinnan was worried that I was emotionally unstable, so he signaled Cai Dezhong to hurry up. Unexpectedly, Cai Dezhong was even more straightforward. He put down the paper in his hand and said,"Wei Xiaobao's ceremony is over.”Chen Jinnan shook his head with a smile and whispered to me,"Your Uncle Cai's heart aches for you, but this is too simple.”

My mood was gradually improving as I stood up with everyone. Ma Chaoxing took a big bowl of wine, and everyone used needles to prick their hands and drip blood into the bowl. When it was my turn, I held the needle but couldn't bring myself to do so. I asked Chen Jinnan,"Master, can I use a nosebleed?”Everyone laughed. Chen Jinnan also laughed and said,"It's fine to use the blood on your finger. Why use the nosebleed?”"My fingers are thin, so I'm afraid I won't be able to squeeze out any blood. I might as well knock on your nose. Maybe you'll bleed."”Chen Jinnan and the rest of the people were laughing so hard that they were rolling back and forth."This is just a formality. One drop is enough. There's no need to go through too much trouble." As he spoke, Chen Jinnan took the steel needle and pulled my hand. There was a cold flash and blood seeped out of my fingertips. I didn't feel any pain.

After dripping the blood into the bowl, everyone drank a mouthful, and the ceremony was over. When the ceremony was over, Chen Jinnan announced to the crowd,"Two years ago, Yi Xiangzhu was killed by a traitor. I heard that the brothers of Green Wood Hall swore to kill Ao Bai to avenge Yi Xiangzhu and recommended the person who killed Ao Bai to be the incense master of Green Wood Hall.”The people from Green Wood Hall nodded. Chen Jinnan continued," Ao Bai was killed by Xiao Bao. Now that I've taken Xiao Bao as my disciple and recruited him into the Heaven and Earth Society, I wonder…" Chen Jinnan paused as if he was trying to find the right words. Xuan Zhen was indeed a cultivator. He understood Chen Jinnan's intention immediately and said loudly,"Chief, I, Xuan Zhen, am willing to make Wei Xiaobao the Chief Incense of Greenwood Hall.”Guan Anji and the others also understood. Whether they were willing or not, they also said,"This subordinate is willing to obey Wei Xiaobao's orders.”

Chen Jinnan said,"Since everyone is willing to invite Little Treasure to be the incense master, this matter is settled. Everyone, please greet him."”

Xuan Zhen, Guan Anji, and the others all came over to greet me, and I returned their greetings. When it was a skinny man's turn, I almost laughed out loud. This person was short and had a sharp head. His triangular eyes rolled back and forth, and there were two rat whiskers on his mouth. He looked exactly like a wretched man. This person came in front of me and said,"Subordinate Qian Lao Ben greets the incense master of our hall.”"Ah, you're Old Ben Qian?"”Elder Qian was startled." Yes, I am." He said," Does the Incense Master know me?"”I laughed dryly and said,"I just heard your name is interesting. I didn't know it before."”Elder Qian retreated.

I remember that Old Ben Qian is a shrewd person and good material for doing business. I'm about to invest a large sum of money recently and urgently need such talents. With Old Ben Qian, I can earn a lot of money without worry.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Jinnan said,"Xiao Bao, you still have to go back to the palace. Go back today and come back tomorrow. I'll teach you martial arts.”I was indeed tired, so I hurriedly bid farewell to the people in the hall. Everyone stood up and bowed, but only Xuan Zhen sent me out of the door. Mao Shi Ba was standing under a tree in a daze. When he saw me come out, he hurriedly ran up and asked,""How is it, Brother Wei? Has the Chief agreed to your joining?”Without waiting for me to reply, Xuan Zhen said,"Mao Shi Ba, send Incense Lord Wei back.”? Mao Shi Ba was stunned." What?" Wei…Incense Master Wei?" I smiled and nodded." Big Brother Mao, we'll be brothers in the same hall in the future. I don't know anything, so you have to take care of me."”Mao Shi Ba's face looked like it had been squeezed through a door, his eyes almost popping out. Seeing his appearance, I laughed wildly in my heart, but I still held his hand affectionately and walked out of the door. When we arrived at the door, someone had already led two horses over. After saying goodbye to Xuan Zhen, the two of us mounted our horses and left.

On the way, Mao Shi Ba kept asking me about the situation. I only briefly told him about how Chen Jin Nan accepted me as his disciple and how he was pushed to be the incense master. Mao Shi Ba didn't say anything more and was in a daze the whole way. Seeing him like this, I couldn't bear it and told him to go back on the way. I entered the capital alone.

When I got home, I couldn't help but be excited. I hugged Xiao Lian and spun around again and again. Xiao Lian saw that I was happy and was extremely happy. She asked me why I was happy. I didn't dare to tell her, so I took out a handful of jewelry from my pocket and said,"Look what I brought you. Sit down and I'll put them on for you.”Xiao Lian's face was as red as peach as she sat down obediently in front of the dressing table. I put on the jewelry on her one by one. After she was dressed, I asked her to stand up and walk around. Little Lian was already extremely beautiful, and with all the sparkling jewelry, she was even more breathtaking. I couldn't help but want to carry her to bed. Little Lian pushed me, her face flushed red with embarrassment. She said softly," It's still painful today. After a few more days, it'll be fine…" I pinched her little face and smiled."Then what?"

Little Lian was anxious and embarrassed. She stomped her feet and ran out. I laughed loudly and took off my coat to go to bed. Suddenly, I saw the soft silk armor I was wearing. I immediately remembered something and shouted,"Little Lian, come quickly. There's something that you have to do.”

************************************************************************

Little Lian cried sadly," My husband has worked so hard and racked his brains to write this extraordinary book every day. I didn't expect that he would fail to pass through the Three Rivers twice. I couldn't bear to see him suffer, but I couldn't do anything about it. If you feel sorry for Little Lian, why don't you vote a few times to seek justice for my husband?"”

###################################

In a trance, I felt as if someone was pinching my philtrum. A huge pain made me open my eyes. I saw a group of people surrounding me. Chen Jinnan squatted down and asked with concern,"Little Treasure, what's wrong?" I struggled to get up and said,"I'm fine, I'm fine. I've been very tired these past few days. In addition, I haven't been cultivating properly recently.”"Hai Dafu isn't around anymore, so don't practice martial arts on your own," Chen Jinnan said.”"Thank you, Master," I said. "The incense hall has been set up," Chen Jinnan said."If you're not feeling well, we'll hold the ceremony another day."”I hurriedly said,"It's fine, my disciple is fine, let's start."”

Everyone entered the back hall one after another. I followed behind everyone and looked at Li Shikai. Seeing that he had a guilty expression and lowered his head without saying a word, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart. Perhaps this Li Shikai also likes Rong 'er.

The ceremony began. I knelt in front of the incense table. On the table were the tablets of the Ming Emperor and Zheng Chenggong. The group of people behind me also knelt down. The head of the Lotus Hall, Cai Dezhong, took a piece of paper from the incense table and read the speech according to it. After reading for a long time, I didn't understand a single sentence. This wasn't my fault. I guessed that Lao Cai was reading the eight-legged essay. I, a modern youth who reads fantasy literature all day long, had never seen such a sentence.

As I listened to the Heavenly Book, I started to miss Rong 'er again. Rong 'er originally had a father, a group of brothers from the Heaven and Earth Society, and perhaps a few young admirers. She should have been very happy. But now, her father was dead, her admirers were dead, and the Heaven and Earth Society did not want her anymore. She was all alone and had no one to rely on. No one knew where she had drifted to. She did not know where she was now, whether she had eaten her fill, whether she was wearing warm clothes, and whether anyone would bully her. If she was bullied, who would stand up for her? Who could protect her? The more I thought about it, the more pitiful I felt for Rong 'er. My heart also became more and more sorrowful. For a moment, it was unbearable and I couldn't help but cry.

Everyone was surprised to see me crying. Chen Jinnan walked up and asked softly,"Little Treasure, what's wrong?" I didn't know how to explain, so I said,"When I thought of my past and how I suddenly had so many good brothers and friends today, I was so excited that I couldn't help but cry.”Chen Jinnan was delighted to hear that." Silly child," he said with a smile," you should be laughing. Why are you crying?"”Everyone smiled and looked at me with a very friendly gaze.

Chen Jinnan was worried that I was emotionally unstable, so he signaled Cai Dezhong to hurry up. Unexpectedly, Cai Dezhong was even more straightforward. He put down the paper in his hand and said,"Wei Xiaobao's ceremony is over.”Chen Jinnan shook his head with a smile and whispered to me,"Your Uncle Cai's heart aches for you, but this is too simple.”

My mood was gradually improving as I stood up with everyone. Ma Chaoxing took a big bowl of wine, and everyone used needles to prick their hands and drip blood into the bowl. When it was my turn, I held the needle but couldn't bring myself to do so. I asked Chen Jinnan,"Master, can I use a nosebleed?”Everyone laughed. Chen Jinnan also laughed and said,"It's fine to use the blood on your finger. Why use the nosebleed?”"My fingers are thin, so I'm afraid I won't be able to squeeze out any blood. I might as well knock on your nose. Maybe you'll bleed."”Chen Jinnan and the rest of the people were laughing so hard that they were rolling back and forth."This is just a formality. One drop is enough. There's no need to go through too much trouble." As he spoke, Chen Jinnan took the steel needle and pulled my hand. There was a cold flash and blood seeped out of my fingertips. I didn't feel any pain.

After dripping the blood into the bowl, everyone drank a mouthful, and the ceremony was over. When the ceremony was over, Chen Jinnan announced to the crowd,"Two years ago, Yi Xiangzhu was killed by a traitor. I heard that the brothers of Green Wood Hall swore to kill Ao Bai to avenge Yi Xiangzhu and recommended the person who killed Ao Bai to be the incense master of Green Wood Hall.”The people from Green Wood Hall nodded. Chen Jinnan continued," Ao Bai was killed by Xiao Bao. Now that I've taken Xiao Bao as my disciple and recruited him into the Heaven and Earth Society, I wonder…" Chen Jinnan paused as if he was trying to find the right words. Xuan Zhen was indeed a cultivator. He understood Chen Jinnan's intention immediately and said loudly,"Chief, I, Xuan Zhen, am willing to make Wei Xiaobao the Chief Incense of Greenwood Hall.”Guan Anji and the others also understood. Whether they were willing or not, they also said,"This subordinate is willing to obey Wei Xiaobao's orders.”

Chen Jinnan said,"Since everyone is willing to invite Little Treasure to be the incense master, this matter is settled. Everyone, please greet him."”

Xuan Zhen, Guan Anji, and the others all came over to greet me, and I returned their greetings. When it was a skinny man's turn, I almost laughed out loud. This person was short and had a sharp head. His triangular eyes rolled back and forth, and there were two rat whiskers on his mouth. He looked exactly like a wretched man. This person came in front of me and said,"Subordinate Qian Lao Ben greets the incense master of our hall.”"Ah, you're Old Ben Qian?"”Elder Qian was startled." Yes, I am." He said," Does the Incense Master know me?"”I laughed dryly and said,"I just heard your name is interesting. I didn't know it before."”Elder Qian retreated.

I remember that Old Ben Qian is a shrewd person and good material for doing business. I'm about to invest a large sum of money recently and urgently need such talents. With Old Ben Qian, I can earn a lot of money without worry.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Jinnan said,"Xiao Bao, you still have to go back to the palace. Go back today and come back tomorrow. I'll teach you martial arts.”I was indeed tired, so I hurriedly bid farewell to the people in the hall. Everyone stood up and bowed, but only Xuan Zhen sent me out of the door. Mao Shi Ba was standing under a tree in a daze. When he saw me come out, he hurriedly ran up and asked,""How is it, Brother Wei? Has the Chief agreed to your joining?”Without waiting for me to reply, Xuan Zhen said,"Mao Shi Ba, send Incense Lord Wei back.”? Mao Shi Ba was stunned." What?" Wei…Incense Master Wei?" I smiled and nodded." Big Brother Mao, we'll be brothers in the same hall in the future. I don't know anything, so you have to take care of me."”Mao Shi Ba's face looked like it had been squeezed through a door, his eyes almost popping out. Seeing his appearance, I laughed wildly in my heart, but I still held his hand affectionately and walked out of the door. When we arrived at the door, someone had already led two horses over. After saying goodbye to Xuan Zhen, the two of us mounted our horses and left.

On the way, Mao Shi Ba kept asking me about the situation. I only briefly told him about how Chen Jin Nan accepted me as his disciple and how he was pushed to be the incense master. Mao Shi Ba didn't say anything more and was in a daze the whole way. Seeing him like this, I couldn't bear it and told him to go back on the way. I entered the capital alone.

When I got home, I couldn't help but be excited. I hugged Xiao Lian and spun around again and again. Xiao Lian saw that I was happy and was extremely happy. She asked me why I was happy. I didn't dare to tell her, so I took out a handful of jewelry from my pocket and said,"Look what I brought you. Sit down and I'll put them on for you.”Xiao Lian's face was as red as peach as she sat down obediently in front of the dressing table. I put on the jewelry on her one by one. After she was dressed, I asked her to stand up and walk around. Little Lian was already extremely beautiful, and with all the sparkling jewelry, she was even more breathtaking. I couldn't help but want to carry her to bed. Little Lian pushed me, her face flushed red with embarrassment. She said softly," It's still painful today. After a few more days, it'll be fine…" I pinched her little face and smiled."Then what?"

Little Lian was anxious and embarrassed. She stomped her feet and ran out. I laughed loudly and took off my coat to go to bed. Suddenly, I saw the soft silk armor I was wearing. I immediately remembered something and shouted,"Little Lian, come quickly. There's something that you have to do.”

************************************************************************

Little Lian cried sadly," My husband has worked so hard and racked his brains to write this extraordinary book every day. I didn't expect that he would fail to pass through the Three Rivers twice. I couldn't bear to see him suffer, but I couldn't do anything about it. If you feel sorry for Little Lian, why don't you vote a few times to seek justice for my husband?"”

This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]

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