"Good."
Lu Li nodded, pulled Zhang Song's corpse from the soil, searched it, and found a Storage Bag.
He was just about to open it and take a look when Wu De came rushing over anxiously: "Brother, brother, you can't forget your roots. I, your old brother, risked my life to lure him here, you..."
"Old man, what do you want!" Before Lu Li could speak, Li Chenghu flashed forward and blocked him.
"I'm talking with my brother, what's it to you." Wu De raised an eyebrow and glanced at Li Chenghu, actually talking back.
"Old thing, you must be tired of living!"
"Brother Li, let him come." It was at this moment that Lu Li spoke.
Li Chenghu glared at Wu De, then finally lowered his arm to let Wu De pass. Wu De ignored his gesture, glared back at Li Chenghu, then waddled over to Lu Li's side. "My brother here is still the righteous one."
Lu Li shook the Storage Bag in his hand. "I haven't had time to look inside yet. How about I propose a distribution method?"
"What method?"
"Simple. All the Earth Milk Essence inside goes to you. Aside from the Earth Milk Essence, everything else is mine. What do you think?"
"Deal!"
Wu De agreed without a second thought, thinking: This Zhang Song clearly didn't have any treasures. If he did, he would've pulled them out during that life-or-death moment. Besides, what he cared about was only the Earth Milk Essence.
"Quick and easy!" Lu Li smiled upon hearing this, and right in front of Wu De, he began taking the items out one by one.
Twenty jade bottles.
A pill furnace.
Three Talismans.
...
And some other miscellaneous items.
Lu Li directly put away the pill furnace and the three talismans, then looked at the remaining jade bottles. "These are left. Let's see what's inside?"
"That's it?" Wu De looked shocked and doubtful. He snatched the Storage Bag and checked it. A moment later, his face turned extremely ugly. "You, you didn't say... there was a pool of Earth Milk Essence?"
Lu Li spread his hands. "I said that pool of Earth Milk Essence is gone. Who knows where he hid it?"
He glanced at the jade bottles on the ground. "Maybe... inside these?"
Wu De bristled, his beard seeming to puff up. He squatted down and started checking. But the more he checked, the uglier his expression became. By the time he finished checking all twenty jade bottles, they were all filled with True Essence Pills. He plopped down on the ground, his face full of disappointment. "Take them all."
Lu Li waved his hand, and the pile of jade bottles disappeared instantly.
Seeing the other's despondent look, he felt a bit of pity. So he took out another jade bottle.
Wu De thought to himself: This kid's heart isn't too bad after all, knowing to leave one bottle for this old man. Looks like I shouldn't trick him too much in the future. Thinking this, he reached out to take it.
Who would've thought.
Lu Li pulled out the stopper and carefully poured a single pill into Wu De's hand.
Then, he turned and ran. "Old thing, I'll annoy you to death, you bastard!"
Wu De's face immediately turned ashen. He threw the True Essence Pill in his hand to the ground, roaring at Lu Li's retreating figure, "Ah-! You little bastard, you better not run into me alone, or else this old man will finish you off-This pisses me off to no end!"
This kid!
Li Chenghu and the other person were simply stunned by this scene, wondering how there could be such a shameless person in this world?
Of course, they didn't understand the grudge between Lu Li and Wu De. If they knew, they wouldn't think that way.
Because Wu De was even more of a trickster than Lu Li.
At noon the next day, Lu Li returned to Dihu Town once more. Looking back at the crimson mountain range behind him, Lu Li felt a sense of liberation.
This trip to the Lei Fire Mountain Range was quite fruitful. Not only did he gather the materials for the Piercing Acupoint Pill, but he also killed Zhang Song and obtained a pill furnace.
"Brother, how about it? Can you join our Dihu Stronghold now?" Inside the town on the street, Li Chenghu said to Lu Li as they walked.
Lu Li nodded. "Of course. Thanks to the help of Brother Li and Senior Chu, I was able to kill Zhang Song and get revenge. If I refused again, wouldn't that be heartless?"
"Hahaha, brother, you're really something."
Upon hearing this, Li Chenghu directly slung his arm over Lu Li's shoulder. "I'm very happy you can say that, brother. But don't take this matter too much to heart. Actually, I've long wanted to deal with that bunch of sons of turtles from the Bairi Stronghold. If anything, I should thank you."
Now this is composure and ease.
Lu Li genuinely admired Li Chenghu a bit.
The three of them discussed as they walked. Li Chenghu originally wanted to establish another hall for Lu Li to lead. However, Lu Li insisted his cultivation was insufficient and used that as an excuse to decline. In the end, Li Chenghu couldn't persuade him, so he made him a deputy hall leader instead.
Lu Li did this not out of affectation, but because he had other things to do and couldn't stay at Dihu Stronghold forever. The title of deputy hall leader was just a nominal one; it wouldn't affect Dihu Stronghold's operations.
If he really became a hall leader, it would be different. He'd have to constantly look after Dihu Stronghold, which would be extremely detrimental to his cultivation.
Chu Fankong understood Lu Li's intention upon hearing it, but could only sigh in his heart. He knew that a place like Dihu Stronghold was only suitable for young people who saw no hope, or old folks like them who saw no hope for the rest of their lives.
If they forced Dihu Stronghold onto him, it would only harm him.
But making him acknowledge Dihu Stronghold felt worth it. If someday this kid really made a name for himself, they could say he came from Dihu Stronghold. Perhaps Dihu Stronghold could even benefit from his glory.
Thinking of this, he took two steps forward to walk side-by-side with the two, smiling as he said to Lu Li: "Brother Qin, the world is vast, but Bihu Garden will always be your home. I hope that no matter how far you go in the future, you won't forget this home."
Lu Li was taken aback, immediately understanding that the other had seen through his thoughts. He said seriously, "Brother, rest assured. To the ends of the earth, I will never forget Bihu Garden."
"That's good, that's very good. Although this old man doesn't like to drink, tonight I must accompany Brother Qin until we're drunk!"
Li Chenghu was initially puzzled why the two seemed like they were parting forever. Suddenly hearing about drinking, he immediately threw those thoughts to the far ends of the earth. "Right, right! Not returning until we're drunk!"
Lu Li also laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Good! Although I also don't enjoy drinking, I'm happy today. Making an exception is fine!"
Then, as if remembering something, he pulled the two aside, looking apologetic. "Two elder brothers, I'm truly sorry. Actually... Qin Shouren is the name of a deceased brother of mine. I deceived you before. My real name... is Lu Li."
"Lu Li?"
The two looked at each other, then burst into laughter. "Tonight you have to be punished with three cups first!"
"I accept the punishment, I accept the punishment!" Seeing that the two had no intention of pursuing the matter, the shadow in Lu Li's heart completely dissipated.
The feeling of being oneself again was truly good.
Returning to the Dihu Stronghold.
Li Chenghu immediately gathered all the disciples and announced loudly:
"Everyone listen up! From now on, Brother Lu Li is the deputy hall leader of our Dihu Stronghold. When you see him, it's the same as seeing this head of the household. You must all obey him obediently. Understood?"
"Deputy Hall Leader!"
"Deputy Hall Leader!"
"..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd immediately shouted in unison.
Everyone here had seen Lu Li during the trip to the Youlong Stronghold. For this youth who single-handedly charged into Youlong Stronghold to rescue Lei Xiaoman, everyone was genuinely convinced from the bottom of their hearts.
"Good!" Li Chenghu looked very satisfied. "I've decided, tonight we'll hold a bonfire and drinking party right here in the square, to celebrate Brother Lu Li becoming the deputy hall leader of our Dihu Stronghold. Everyone, immediately prepare firewood and drinks... We won't return until we're drunk!"
"Good! Good! Good!..."
The crowd cheered excitedly and rushed off to prepare.
Looking for more free chapters? Visit www.skynovelvault.com to read over 5,000 free chapters and continue exploring more stories from SkyNovelVault.