Wisteria Suburbs

  The river water flows quietly, and an old fragrant schisandra tree shades the sky like an umbrella.

  Liu Zhen stood under the tree, plucked a paulownia leaf, and threw it into the moat. The leaf spun on the water surface and floated away.

  In the distance, Cong Yu and Eve stood, robust pandas with their arms around each other, using their icy stares to intimidate away any onlookers who dared to approach.

  After this awkward banquet, Cui Peishan brought Liu Zhensheng and Xiao Hu Li alone to here.

  To this end, Helen declined countless invitations to balls and ardent requests for dinner from nobles, including the prince's persistent and passionate gaze.

  Liu Zhen was aware that the beautiful snake instructor must have something to say.

  He is waiting.

  Scouts are most concerned with having patience, and Liu Zhenlei has never lacked this.

  "Richard." The beautiful snake opened her mouth lightly: "Why do you deliberately conceal from the temple the fact that you possess the four great golden puppet demons and killed a hell black dragon?"

  "It seems like Wei'er still didn't listen to me." Liu Zhen's foot flew up and kicked a stone on the ground into the air.

  "Don't forget, the bear warrior Vieiri was once my follower. Many years ago, I saved his life, so Vieiri would never hide anything from me. At the same time he submitted a memo to the Temple, he also brought me a letter." Cui Peishan smiled and said: "Because he knows you are my disciple, and he seems to understand your current awkward situation."

  Helen's face turned red.

  She also knew these things, but she hid a corner of her heart and didn't tell her mentor who treated her like his own daughter.

  Since Vieley was kind, I think I don't have to blame him anymore. Mentor... you tell me, which one is harder, teeth or tongue? Liu Zhensheng asked.

  "Definitely... it's teeth." Helen said hesitantly after taking a look at the beautiful snake.

  The beautiful woman snake smiled profoundly and gazed at Liu Zhen.

  "Even the hardest teeth will have a day to fall out, but the tongue will never fall out - because it is soft enough." Liu Zhen looked at Helen and then at the beautiful snake: "Now I am facing a challenge from a very hard nut, do you think I should choose to be the tooth or choose to be the tongue?"

  "I actually had this premonition last time, your cautiousness is indeed vastly different from your rough and bold appearance." A hint of delight flashed across the eyes of the beautiful snake.

  "That's because I'm facing a lot of unknown threats, my nature isn't like that." Liu Zhen shook his head with a smile: "I'd rather use the Golden Man to knock those who framed me into being idiots."

  "Rashness and impulsiveness are the greatest original sins." The beautiful snake nodded and said: "Grek. Sal, His Majesty has been the King of Bimon for two consecutive terms and it is very likely that he will continue to be crowned for the third time. Your decision, Richard, is undoubtedly wise. You should not have any dissatisfaction with the Temple, as the royal family and the Temple were originally two separate institutions, but since several princes joined the Temple's Holy Knights, they became a part of the Temple, and from then on, every major Shaman would have their own difficulties when making any decisions."

  "If Director Qi didn't do this, he wouldn't have climbed to such a high position. If it were me, I would do the same."

  A vassal tribe's Pigga and a prince, if it weren't for the Great Shaman's neural short circuit, basically wouldn't have resulted in Old Liu being favored.

  Liu Zhen was always very understanding and reasonable.

  His elegance made Mei Nv She take another look at him, and this disciple would make Cui Pei Shan re-examine him every time he appeared.

  "Mentor, I'm in a very awkward situation, you know that. In the knowledge that someone is plotting against me, what can be achieved by announcing my ability to slay dragons?" Liu Zhen shook his head and pointed at his sleeve, laughing: "Like today's Helen, first accept the cheers of the people, then pin on a dragon-head badge with crossed swords? Then wait for the Temple to assign me the most dangerous tasks again?"

  "No one dares to harm the servant who serves the God of War." Cui Peishan corrected Liu Zhenshen's words.

  "Since you're my mentor, I might as well be honest with you. To be frank, my abilities are not sufficient to slay a dragon." Liu Zhen shook his head and smiled wryly: "This time's dragon-slaying was completely an accident. That Hell Black Dragon was in a mountain cave that was only ten zhang high, so it couldn't fly. If it were flying in the air, I would definitely have no way to deal with it."

  "Even my mentor, Phoenix Muirneach, wouldn't have a guaranteed win against a Hell Black Dragon. "Choi Beom-soo nodded in agreement: "However, it's also undeniable that you think far ahead, Richard. But don't think of reality as too dark either - after all, you're a servant of the War God, and even the king wouldn't dare do anything too excessive to you."

  "Haha...... I hope it's as you said..." Liu Zhenhong smiled: "Actually, I and Prince Wang didn't have any deep grudges or hatred. To quarrel with him over trivial matters, I'm not that childish... But this time, I did lose out. Next time, if there's a chance, I'll slowly settle the score with him. Besides, there's something I've always been puzzled about - aren't the Lion Tiger people supposed to have had most of their reproductive abilities taken away by the War God? Why is he still clinging onto Helen so tightly? Mentor, you're in a high position of power, shouldn't you advise this kid?"

  "The prince's veins flow with the blood of the Rhine lion, which is a better breed than the Mongolian lion. How can this be persuaded? Not to mention the royal family, go and see the nobles of Wesser Pong, so many beautiful female slaves are raised for what purpose?" Cui Pei sighed: "The will of the God of War is issued through the Red Robe High Priest, to say a blasphemous word, it seems that the royal family does not quite believe in this will."

  Helen was startled by this sentence, and her pure self couldn't help but look at her mentor in a somewhat disbelieving manner.

  "These things we can't control." Liu Zhen shook his head with a smile: "I never thought of getting involved in this high-level power struggle, I just want to help Helen avenge the grievances of Maple Leaf Village, and then make a fortune and live a comfortable life, nothing else matters to me."

  "As for the matter of sealing the land, I can see that you are actually very angry in your heart. Why don't you speak up and ask me what the reason is?" asked the beautiful snake woman.

  "My fief has already included half of the wasteland south of the Sanggan River, even if it's a dragon sacrifice, such a large fief is considered exceptionally generous. As for whether this fief is rich enough, that's another matter altogether." Liu Zhensheng smiled and said: "You are my and Helen's mentor, the temple has already hinted to you to avoid suspicion, what can be done even if I ask you?"

  "Falun... This fief is in the central region of the wasteland, where not only are there numerous earth spirits and barbaric cannibal demons, but also some human slave traders often set foot. Helen going with you, to be honest, I'm not at ease." Cui Peishan stopped the little fox who was about to speak, continuing: "The territory of the Donau wasteland is too vast, without subjects under your command, there's no wealth, and your future path is still long, I want to keep Helen by my side, following me in cultivation."

  "Wesley wasn't built in a day, I agree with your opinion, mentor." Liu Zhenhong took out the appointment letter and gazed at it quietly.

  "Helen is too beautiful, not just her, but also those two......" The beauty snake pointed to the distant Cong Yu and Eve who were holding a piglet, and after thinking for a long time, she couldn't come up with a reasonable title, so she had to gloss over it: "...Their beauty will also bring you countless disasters, you may not know, how many eyes will be secretly watching their beauty, and wanting to take it for themselves. Do you have enough powerful strength to protect them? What awaits you is an endless stream of trials."

  "Mentor, I..." Helen wanted to retort, but was interrupted by Liu's shocking words.

  "It's best for these people to dispel their foolish thoughts! Because my patience is absolutely limited, and I can only take advantage of it without suffering losses. Whoever thinks so, I guarantee that I will make regret the main theme of his life in the second half." Liu Zhen shook off his laziness and lit up a huge cigar.

  "Sometimes I really don't understand you, hiding your light and pretending to be a seasoned veteran of the officialdom, but when you're being reckless, you seem like a street urchin. Cui Peishan smiled: "But I quite like your reckless look, your eyes tell me that you've been through stormy weather, those years of pride and arrogance may be the most suitable way for you to live."

  "The decision of the temple is not necessarily wrong." Liu Zhen said: "Let me suffer more, it's also a kind of tempering."

  "Even gods live in the mundane world, they also have things that must be considered..." The beautiful snake gazed at the ripples on the water: "Even if a god of war were to come to the mortal realm, they could not avoid this worldly disturbance."

  "Mentor, what you said today, isn't it a bit......" Helen couldn't help but ask.

  "Foolish child!" The beautiful snake laughed with a "heh heh": "Are you trying to say something blasphemous? This kind of talk might be too shocking coming from the mouth of a priest, but it's the truth, an undeniable fact that no one can erase."

  Helen opened her beautiful eyes, a little disbelieving.

  "Helen, as your senior, do you know how many requests for marriage from noble families I rejected today? Your beauty and stunning title have driven all the fox tribe nobles in Witherston mad! You possess everything that is enviable: beauty, dual-system magic, a Komodo war beast, and at just 15 years old, you've already obtained the white robe of the War Sacrifice. But these honors may bring you endless trouble, and those who covet you are not even afraid to offend the gods. The power of nobility is sometimes not something that even kings dare to underestimate. You two are also nobles, but compared to them, the difference is just too great."

  Helen's face turned red.

  "Alright, alright, I won't mention those distressing things anymore. You're still young, and too much burden will make you lose your motivation to move forward in your hearts. Take good care of these two white robes, since the last time we left the temple, Master has personally sewn these two sets of war ceremonial white robes for you. The two white robes you casually took are indeed a bit rough in workmanship." Cui Peishan handed over the two white robes on her arm to the two juniors and pinned a brand new silver Medusa badge on Helen's collar.

  Helen carefully stroked the ceremonial badge that symbolized her possession of a large magical beast, and the complex symbols on it reflected a proud smile on her delicate face.

  "As for the various battle songs after advancing, as your mentor, I will go to your fiefdom and give you sufficient guidance after handling the temple's affairs." The beautiful snake woman tidied up Liu's disheveled hair.

  "Master Choi Bong-seon, I will remember what you said deeply in my heart." Liu Zhen extinguished his cigar and respectfully received the white sacrificial robe with both hands, on which a thorny bird pattern was embroidered, singing a high-pitched song.

  "Good luck, Richard." The beautiful snake opened her arms, with a face full of encouragement and expectation.

  "Your encouragement will always be with me." Liu Zhen felt a sense of peace and tranquility as he lightly hugged his kind instructor. Every time he saw Cui Peishan, Liu Zhen felt that countless troubles in his heart seemed to temporarily disappear, giving him a refreshing feeling like a spring breeze.

  "Richard, what's this?" Choi Min-ji's soft fingers felt a long, narrow package hanging on the back of Liu Zhen's wide back.

  "Not yet reported to Director Cui Peishan, you know, this is my instrument." Liu Zhen shook open the package on his back and uncovered the instrument wrapped under the leather case.

  The beautiful woman snake gazed at the pole-shaped instrument with a unique string, and the intricate flower pattern on the leather tube and the large magic crystal attracted her attention.

  "Campus!" The beautiful snake touched it and immediately knew, suddenly raised her head and whispered: "Hell Black Dragon Skin and Dragon Crystal! Aren't you afraid of being too eye-catching?"

  "It's a pity that I only have a small piece of dragon skin, just enough to make one instrument like this." Liu Zhensheng replied respectfully.

  "What is this?" The beautiful snake woman drew out a slender sword with cold light from the end of the staff.

  "As a 'music and martial arts' cultivator, it's only natural that I have a dagger hidden in my instrument." Liu Zhenhong brushed aside the hem of his ritual robe, revealing a row of neat daggers on his waist belt.

  "It's too scary." The beautiful snake touched her own heart.

  "The sound of this instrument is very pleasant." Helen said with a smile beside her.

  "May I play for you, teacher?" Liu adjusted his strings and was eager to try.

  The beautiful snake nodded curiously.

  A stray bullet stood alone at the entrance of the cave, I pretended you were still there behind me.

  Returning to the old place is like a reunion, the full moon can be lonely.

  Who is playing "Cat's Ear Hole" with a string?

  Years passed like gunshots, and I saw my childhood.

  Still remember that year we were all still very young...

  The familiar melody from Liu's violin, flowed with the quiet river water. The lonely and beautiful violin sound seemed to be telling a story of flying in the war fire, with subtle and implicit endless thoughts.

  "It sounds great, really great." The beautiful snake looked at Liu's changing gaze, and under the rough and ugly appearance of this disciple, it slowly revealed its uniqueness, like an old wine, which made the noble and dignified priestess also produce a curiosity to explore what was going on.

  Liu Zhenhong let out a long sigh and stopped talking, slowly turning his back on them. His eyes were welling up with tears as he thought of his brother again, and all the things that had happened in the past.

  "There's nothing else to say, Helen... I'll leave it to you, Master." Liu Zhen stunned gritted his teeth, turned around and bowed deeply to Cui Peishan, straightened up, kissed Helen's cheek, looked at her with deep affection, squeezed out a smile, and walked directly towards the direction where Jingyu, Aifei'er and the pandas were waiting.

  A pair of delicate small hands grasped his footsteps as he was about to turn and leave.

  "Why must we be apart? Dearest Richard..." The little fox gazed at Liu Zhen deeply: "Master Cui Peishan can't protect me forever, only you can."

  Liu was stunned for a moment, then tightly hugged Helen.

  The beautiful snake instructor had a lot to say, but now she couldn't utter a single word.

  "If we were also strong back then, it would have been great." The beautiful snake sighed quietly in her heart.

  ***********************************

  Liu Zhen's harvest from Weatherspoon this time can be said to be a super big harvest.

  Reaped a big pile of troubles.

  This time Prince Richard also became clever and no longer wanted to accompany them on shopping trips, which made Liu a little disappointed.

  Helpless, he had to use his own valuable family heirloom to exchange for some money. When he found the boss Luo again, what he took out almost made this worldly and knowledgeable old boss's eyeballs drop onto the table.

  "Wow......" Lord Rog looked at Liu Zhen with a suspicious face, holding the Dark Elf Queen's crown in his hand, thinking to himself: This is indeed the Seven-Degree Gold-made crown from the underground! Is this follower not stealing the prince's things and selling them?

  "Take a look at this again." Liu Zhen took out another crown, which was Aifei's crystal crown, and also took out a pile of dark crystals found on the Dark Elf Queen.

  "Heavens... This... Isn't this the crystal crown made from the Icebound Sea's crystal? And isn't that the dark, underworld black crystal?" Rog's eyes bulged out again with congestion, and at the same time, he once again confirmed that his idea that this guy was stealing things to sell was correct.

  "Let's take another look at this." Liu Zhenhua took out that colorful egg Wangzi sent to Hailun again.

  "Beast King Gem Easter Egg?" Rong rolled his eyes and pushed everything back to Liu Zhen.

  "Why not?" Liu Zhen was short of money and had gone mad, this time going to that desolate place with no castles or houses. What would he do when he got there? He couldn't just sleep on the open plains overnight, could he? And he didn't even have any livestock to graze, everything from food and drink to sanitation relied on these few things.

  "Sorry!" Lord Rog couldn't say directly that he didn't dare to accept the stolen goods, so he had to play a trick: "Your Excellency's items are too expensive. Even if it were the most aristocratic family with the purest bloodline, this collection would be enough to destroy their pride. My small shop is not big, and I really can't afford to pay such a sky-high price for these 'royal collections'. If you take out something a bit more... civilianized, I wouldn't mind exchanging it for you."

  The human boss pronounced the words "Royal Collection" particularly loudly.

  "Will you take this scrap copper?" Liu Zhen shook off his own idea of destroying the golden man.

  "We human merchants are most interested in exchanging goods with the Mong Kingdom for furs, magic crystals, and beastman slaves. Apart from that, we have no other interests. What's the use of scrap copper? It'll just weigh us down on our way back to the Human Kingdom!" Boss Rog said with a roll of his eyes.

  Liu Zhen was stunned. He only had a few valuable things on him, and none of them could be exchanged for anything else. If he couldn't exchange any of these things, would he still be able to survive?

  "Grandma!" Liu Zhenhong slammed his fist on the table, "This wolf-toothed stick is short of weight, refund me!"

  "Oh... You're getting quite brazen. Lord Langdale of the Noble Oversight Committee and Knight Carlos, Commander of the City Guard, are just next door selecting goods. Do you want me to call them over?"

  "Also, let me add that our human measurements are different from yours, you didn't ask and I forgot to tell you." Mr. Rog swung his stout fingers, and immediately a partner ran over to the next room, while the boss sneered with a sly smile.

  Good grabbed the fellow's throat and lifted him off the ground, the boss's sly smile suddenly stopped.

  "Pan Shuai, stop." Jingyu said to Gude.

  Ku De loosened his grip on his partner, and the poor guy clutched at his neck, the tendons standing out in relief.

  Jing took off a piece of jade from his neck and gently put it into Liu Zhen's palm, patting his hand lightly.

  "Don't make things more complicated than they already are, Richard." Jingyu looked up at Liu Zhen.

  Liu Zhenhong grasped the jade pendant tightly in his hand, its warmth and smoothness like a gentle caress on his skin.

  Old Liu hesitated for half a day, sighed softly, and tossed the jade pendant onto the counter.

  The human merchant woke up from his daze, chuckled twice, shook off the fat on his body, and carefully examined the ancient Eastern-style jade pendant for a long time before reluctantly putting it away at a very low price.

  Luoge boss saw that this guy was in urgent need of money.

  "Next time I come back to redeem it, if this jade pendant is gone, I will raze all of your human merchants' shops." Liu left with a stern warning.

  Neurosis. Boss Luo watched the back view going away and raised his middle finger in hatred.

  "This thing is still okay." The human merchant rubbed the jade pendant in his hand, and then put it to his nose with a lewd expression, smelling the fragrance of a beautiful woman on it.

  The gold coins exchanged for the jade pendant were only enough to buy some essential food and a few hundred heads of grazing Sa beasts, and after that, there was hardly anything left. Liu Zhen felt that his castle dream was crumbling bit by bit.

  In his mind, there was only a vast expanse of wilderness with countless thatched cottages standing in it.

  ＊＊

  Recommend "Ze Yu", new book by veteran author!

  Recommend "Mech Armor Starry Sky", a brilliant work of aerial combat!