Under the shadow of the paper umbrella, a graceful girl in a white gauze skirt bowed gracefully and kowtowed to Zhao Lihe and others with gratitude on her face.

Zhao Lihe chuckled and asked her to stand up, then looked at the large and small urns on the ground next to the grave.

Shen Lian asked: "Master, what should we do with these urns?"

Zhao Lihe said: "Saving one person is saving, saving a hundred people is also saving, let's take them all away."

Shen Lian bowed respectfully: "Yes!"

While the two brothers were collecting the ashes of other passers-by who had died in vain, Zhao Lihe turned and looked at Xiaoqing.

"Miss Xiaoqing, can you tell me now where the tree demon's true form is?"

"..." Xiao Qing hesitated and said softly, "My benefactor, grandma, no, that tree demon is very powerful, and it has the support of the Black Mountain Demon in the underworld. You are of noble status and come from an extraordinary family. Why don't you enjoy the wealth of the world instead of entangled with this monster?"

Zhao Lihe raised his eyebrows: "Why, do you want to regret it?"

"Of course not, it's just..."

Xiao Qing quickly clarified, then hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and said, "Go east from here into the forest. There is a towering ancient tree that ten people can hug near the rock wall. That is the real body of the tree demon!"

Zhao Lihe frowned and said, "Ten people hugging each other is so conspicuous, why didn't Hero Yan notice it?"

Xiao Qing explained, "Because the ancient tree is surrounded by evil spirits and fog, ordinary people can't even get close to it, let alone find it. Even if you are as powerful as Master Yan, you will lose your direction after walking in the fog for a long time."

"I understand." Zhao Lihe nodded, then asked with a smile, "Miss Xiaoqing, I have found your body for you as promised. What are your plans next?"

Xiaoqing blinked and said shyly, "Xiaoqing has incomplete memories of her past life and no longer knows where her hometown is. If you are willing, please take me back and find a random place to bury me!"

"..." Zhao Lihe's mouth twitched.

My goodness, if he hadn’t seen A Chinese Ghost Story, he might have agreed.

It is obvious that Xiaoqing wants to be reborn into his family and become a rich girl in her next life because she sees that he comes from a wealthy family!

Thinking of this, Zhao Lihe shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Xiaoqing, I'm going south this time for something important, and I won't leave for three to five years. If you really want to reincarnate as soon as possible, why don't you let me go to the nearby towns and find a kind family to bury you..."

Xiaoqing understood the hidden meaning of Zhao Lihe's words and felt disappointed, but she nodded obediently.

"Then let's do as you say!"

Not long after, Shen Lian and Lu Jianxing collected all the urns.

Zhao Lihe asked Xiaoqing to get into the paper umbrella, and he carried the urn back to Lanruo Temple.

As soon as I entered the temple, I heard the sound of metal clashing in the courtyard.

Zhao Lihe frowned and walked quickly into the temple, and then saw Yan Chixia and Xiahou Swordsman fighting in the courtyard.

Standing in the corridor next to them were Ding Xian and Ning Caichen, who had just woken up and were eating fried dough cakes while watching the battle with great interest.

"What's going on?"

Zhao Lihe's voice came from behind.

Ding Xian quickly swallowed the pancake, stood up and said, "My lord, Brother Yan was healing Brother Xiahou, but Brother Xiahou suddenly woke up and thought Brother Yan was going to do something wrong, so he got furious and started fighting with him again!"

...want to do something wrong?

Zhao Lihe had a strange look on his face, as if he was a little confused.

Shen Lian, who was standing behind him, quietly came forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, I accidentally chopped Xiahou's clothes into ashes."

Zhao Lihe suddenly realized what was going on and looked at the two people fighting in the yard with an amused face. He found that Xiahou was only wearing a linen shirt, with nothing inside, revealing his gray skin and body hair.

One can imagine how sad and angry Xiahou felt when he woke up and found himself being honest with Yan Chixia.

“Buzz buzz buzz!”

The sword energy hummed and wreaked havoc in the courtyard of Lanruo Temple, cutting the stone tiles on the courtyard's floor into countless pieces.

Yan Chixia and Xiahou fought from the ground to the roof, and then from the roof to the ground, and repeatedly approached where the spectators were.

But every time he got closer, Yan Chixia would suddenly use more sophisticated sword moves, forcing Xiahou to retreat step by step.

It is obvious that even if we don't count Taoist magic and techniques, Xiahou is still no match for Yan Chixia in terms of swordsmanship alone.

After knocking Xiahou's sword away with an upward thrust, Yan Chixia's eyes widened, glaring at Xiahou and saying:

"How many times have I told you that I'm not interested in you!"

"Stop talking nonsense. If you dare to take advantage of me, take my sword first!"

Xiahou shouted angrily, and the sword in his hand glowed with a faint light, obviously intending to fight for real.

Ding Xian was watching with great interest, looking like one of those people who followed drama series and supported couples in his previous life.

The CP can be unpopular, but it cannot be weird.

In order to prevent Ding Xian from going astray, Zhao Lihe glanced at Lu Jianxing beside him and signaled him to step forward to stop him.

Lu Jianxing nodded in understanding, immediately took off his brocade robe, handed it to Shen Lian, then jumped up and landed on the battlefield.

At this time, Yan Chixia and Xiahou had already drawn their swords to attack. Even though they saw Lu Jianxing leaping into the battlefield, they were unable to withdraw their swords. They could only try their best to restrain their strength and watch helplessly as the two sharp swords slashed at Lu Jianxing's chest and back.

“Zheng——”

The sword hummed, and Lu Jianxing's skin turned bronze, like a golden arhat, and bounced the two swords back.

Sparks flew, but Lu Jianxing's body was not hurt at all, not even his skin or flesh was hurt by the sword.

Yan Chixia already knew his abilities, so he wasn't particularly surprised.

Xiahou witnessed Lu Jianxing's strength for the first time and was immediately shocked and couldn't help but blurt out.

"This is... the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art?!"

"Brother Xiahou is very insightful!"

Lu Jianxing's body regained its color, and he clasped his fists with a smile, saying, "The two of you should stop arguing meaninglessly. My master has found the tree demon's true form and plans to invite you two to go together to exorcise the demon. What do you think?"

Xiahou frowned: "Tree demon...what tree demon?"

"It's the monster that's lurking here." Lu Jianxing said with a smile, "Brother Xiahou, the female ghost who tried to harm you in the pond was the maidservant of the thousand-year-old tree monster. Brother Yan just wanted to save your life, but he didn't expect to accidentally destroy your clothes during the battle."

"……is that so?"

Xiahou looked at Yan Chixia with suspicion.

"What else?"

Yan Chixia was so upset that he wanted to take out a mirror immediately and slap Xiahou on the face so that he could look at himself carefully.

People should be self-aware and never think they are so handsome when they have a face that is disfigured or beautified...

Yan Chixia complained in his heart, not realizing at all that he was just the eldest brother laughing at the second brother, the pot calling the kettle black.

Under Lu Jianxing's persuasion, the two men put aside their fighting for the time being and came to the room of Zhao Lihe and others as invited.

At this time, Zhao Lihe took out a set of tea sets from somewhere and brewed a pot of the best Tieguanyin.

Yan Chixia took a sip and couldn't help but exclaimed: "Good tea!"

Zhao Lihe said with a smile: "If you like, drink more. I still have some left. It's okay to give it to Hero Yan!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Chixia put down his teacup and shook his head, saying, "I appreciate Brother Zhao's kindness, but forget about it..."

"As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it's hard to go from luxury to frugality. This kind of precious tea is not something that poor people like us can afford. If we get used to its taste and can no longer drink ordinary tea, that would be bad."

After hearing Yan Chixia's words, Xiahou paused in drinking tea and silently put down the cup.

Zhao Lihe chuckled and said, "Master Yan has unparalleled magical skills and great powers, but the most precious thing is that he cares about the people. If even someone like you is not qualified to enjoy a pot of good tea, then who in the world can afford it?"

Xiahou was straightforward and sneered, "Of course it's a powerful person like you!"

Yan Chixia's mouth twitched when he heard this, and he immediately laughed awkwardly and spoke for him, "Brother Xiahou has always been outspoken and speaks his mind. Brother Zhao, you must not take it to heart."

Zhao Lihe smiled and waved his hands, indicating that he didn't care.

Xiahou looked at Yan Chixia coldly and said without any appreciation: "Do you want you to speak for me?"

"...Look!" Yan Chixia rolled his eyes, then sighed and said, "But what Brother Xiahou said is not without reason. This is how the world is now. The rich and powerful have everything, while the poor and humble have nothing."

Zhao Lihe said calmly: "Don't you think there is anything wrong with this kind of world?"

Xiahou said coldly: "So what if there are problems? It has always been like this since ancient times."

Zhao Lihe asked in return: "Is it right if it has always been like this?"

“…”

Xiahou and Yan Chixia were both startled, as if they suddenly realized that the person in front of them was different from ordinary dignitaries.

Zhao Lihe looked calm and said leisurely: "Those who carry firewood for the public should not be allowed to freeze to death in the snow. Those who work for the welfare of the public should not be allowed to fight alone. Those who pave the way for freedom should not be trapped in thorns..."

Youyou's words echoed in the temple. Although the voice was not loud, it was deafening to everyone's ears.

For a moment, whether it was Yan Chixia, Ning Caichen or Xiahou, they all stared at Zhao Lihe in a daze, their hearts churning and their minds in uncertainty.

After a long silence, Ning Caichen suddenly grabbed the luggage, took out a pen and paper, and started recording with excitement on his face.

Xiahou suddenly asked, "Did you say that?"

Zhao Lihe shook his head: "I didn't say that, but I believe it deeply."

Yan Chixia frowned and said, "What do you want to do by saying this?"

Zhao Lihe chuckled and said, "I'm not sure yet - after I get rid of this thousand-year-old tree demon, I will go to visit this beautiful land and see the world before deciding what to do..."

Xiahou listened carefully to Zhao Lihe's words, and suddenly sat up straight, saying solemnly: "If you decide to work hard for these six mantras in the future, you can come to Lanruo Temple to find me, and I will do my best to serve you!"

After saying that, Xiahou turned to look at Yan Chixia and said, "Brother Yan, I suddenly had an epiphany. I would like to borrow your room for a while."

Yan Chixia nodded with satisfaction. Xiahou immediately stood up, grabbed the sword, and strode towards the temple behind.