This story is indeed quite long; it went on until evening, and even Grandma Chen couldn't stay up any longer and had to leave.

Chen Ke summarized the key points of this long story. There were actually only three key points: Chen Zhenghong was too particular about his choice of words and sentences, used too many rhetorical devices, and kept expressing his own emotions, which wasted time.

To be honest, if he were a web novel author, Chen Ke wouldn't be able to finish this long novel. It's a typical example of verbose writing, the author indulging in self-indulgence, and the reader has no sense of connection with the story.

Look at Chen Zhenghong, who was emotionally agitated. Looking at him, there was two parts self-blame, three parts guilt, and five parts heartache in his eyes. On the other hand, Chen Ke's eyes were clear and his face was calm. He was striking the wooden fish rhythmically.

"Child, your uncle has said so much, do you understand your own background now?"

Chen Ke: "I've summarized it, listen to see if I've misunderstood. First, are you saying that I was sent to a Taoist temple to recuperate because I was born weak? Second, that my family doesn't visit me because of my special constitution and they're afraid it will bring me unclean things? Third, that my mother ran away with someone when I was twelve?"

"Cough cough cough..." Chen Zhenghong coughed awkwardly twice, glanced at Chen Zhengxin, and didn't expect Chen Ke to be so blunt.

Chen Zhengxin's face was naturally not in a good mood. With his traditional thinking and rule-abiding behavior, he still couldn't accept the fact that his wife was suing him for divorce.

Chen Ke didn't care about Chen Zhengxin's expression at all. He stood up while tapping the wooden fish and said, "I've finished listening to the story. It's getting late, so I'll be leaving." The main reason was that he was about to finish tapping the merits back, and if he sat down any longer, he was afraid he would lose his temper and knock Chen Zhengxin's head open with the wooden fish stick.

Let's see what's wrong with them, that they have to use their own son's good deeds to protect someone else's son.

The original owner's wish was simple: to travel around and see the world. Chen Ke thought that taking back what belonged to the original owner would be enough. As for revenge, as long as he ate well and recovered his health, Chen Daozhi would not have an easy time, which would also count as revenge.

However, while Chen Ke was willing to let the Chen family off the hook, the Chen family was unwilling to let him go so easily.

"No! You can't leave!" Pan Weiyin was the first to stand up and stop him.

"Wei Yin!" Chen Zhenghong gave her a look, indicating that it was best not to force her unless absolutely necessary. Pan Wei Yin reluctantly sat down.

After Pan Weiyin sat down, Chen Zhenghong continued to Chen Ke, "Child, sit down. This will be your home from now on. Where else do you want to go?"

"The world is so big, I want to go see it."

······

Chen Zhenghong was speechless for a long time after hearing this.

Chen Zhengxin reacted quickly, slamming his hand on the table and standing up abruptly. "You unfilial son! Parents should not travel far while they are alive. Do you intend to be an unfilial person?"

Chen Ke's face instantly turned cold. Heh, trying to use filial piety to pressure him? It's not like he hasn't done things like patricide before.

"Daozhi! Daozhi, what's wrong with you!" Pan Weiyin suddenly exclaimed as the atmosphere between the two was about to turn tense.

The three of them turned around and saw that Chen Daozhi, who had been sitting properly on the stool, had fainted with a pale face.

"The Way!"

"What happened to Daozhi!" Chen Zhenghong and Chen Zhengxin were shocked to see this and rushed over in a panic.

"Quick, call 120!" Pan Weiyin cried anxiously, and even in this state, she still glared fiercely at Chen Ke.

Chen Ke had already stopped playing the wooden fish, but after being glared at by Pan Weiyin, he quickly finished the last ten strikes.

As the final note of the wooden fish faded, Chen Zhenghong, who was holding Chen Daozhi, instantly felt his son's body go cold. In disbelief, he picked up Chen Daozhi's palm and saw that the fortune protected by merit had completely disappeared.

How is this possible? What about the merits of the Dao?

"Zheng Hong, what's wrong with Dao Zhi? What should we do? What should we do?"

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll call 120 right away." Neither of them thought about the merit of protection; they both assumed that since the merit was already on Chen Daozhi, it would remain forever.

After all, not everyone has the secret technique to steal the merits of others, and even if they did, who would be willing to exchange their own lifespan for it?

Chen Zhenghong, as expected of the head of the family, was surprised and uncertain in his heart, but he quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice: "Don't call 120, it's useless. Daozhi is just too tired. Just take him back and let him rest. Zhengxin, please take Daozhi back to his house."

"Okay, big brother." Chen Zhengxin squatted down and carried Chen Daozhi on his back.

Pan Weiyin's eyes were filled with resentment. It must be that short-lived Chen Ke's bad luck. As soon as he came down the mountain, his family had been plagued with problems. It must be him!

"Wei Yin, you go back with him and take care of Dao Zhi. I'll stay here."

After the two left, Chen Zhenghong scrutinized Chen Ke again from beginning to end. This time, he suddenly realized that Chen Ke's appearance was very different from when he was twelve years old.

The Chen family has been catching ghosts for generations, and they are not good at physiognomy, but they can still tell the difference by looking at the surface.

Suppressing his doubts, Chen Zhenghong asked Chen Ke, "Child, besides doing Taoist practices, did you learn anything else at the Taoist temple? Like Qimen Dunjia or traditional Chinese medicine?"

“My master taught me a little bit, and I understand it to some extent.”

Upon hearing that it was Master Wudao who taught him, Chen Zhenghong's expression became somewhat complicated and difficult to discern.

This Taoist priest, whose origins are unknown, is indeed quite accomplished. I unintentionally owed him a favor and originally intended to use it to become his disciple, but he refused. Later, after weighing the pros and cons, I used the favor to allow Chen Ke to live in the Taoist temple.

If he were still in the Chen family, Chen Ke, having lost the protection of his merits, would definitely not have lived past the age of ten. However, Dao Zhi was only thirteen at that time. Chen Ke's death would bring him an improvement in cultivation and destiny, but it was too early and not a good thing for Dao Zhi's long-term development.

Therefore, Chen Zhenghong wanted to wait until Chen Ke turned eighteen before bringing him back. By then, when Chen Ke died from illness and evil spirits, Chen Daozhi's cultivation and fortune would reach their peak. Not only would he be able to break through his own bottleneck, but he might also be able to win the championship of the Xuandao Competition by virtue of his fortune.

Unfortunately, before he could bring Chen Ke back, Chen Ke went down the mountain on his own.

"That's good. I wonder if you've ever heard of the Xuan Dao Competition?"

"I've heard a little about it." In the words of Master Wudao, it's a bunch of demons who go on an adventure, indiscriminately attacking anyone they can get their hands on.

If you catch the toughest one, you win by killing him.

"Would you be interested in participating once? Don't worry about any danger, Daozhi will be there too, and I'll have him protect you."

"Is there really no danger?"

Seeing Chen Ke's interested expression, Chen Zhenghong smiled and said, "Of course, those who went were all young people from the Xuandao sect, and they were all accompanied by elders, so there would be no danger."

"Since there's nothing else to do, I might as well go and broaden my horizons."

"Good, good, a man should have courage, not bad, not bad. Then stay at home for now, I will personally take you there in three days."

It seems they're trying every possible way to keep him here.

"Okay, then I'll stay here."