Encore ③: The River of Life

Foreword:

If you want a cat to catch mice, you can't put a bell on it.

[Part 1: Returning Home in Glory]

How well did I disguise myself?

This sentence popped out from a pile of porcelain bowls, chopsticks, and kitchen utensils.

In a hotel in Pingyang County, where a wedding banquet was being held, Ling Weng, residing within these simple yet sophisticated spiritual props, was wrapped in a loose-fitting winter coat in the Great Xia, seemingly afraid that it wouldn't be enough. This god of craftsmen had secretly slipped away to attend the War King's wedding without even asking Ming De for leave.

Sitting across the table was David Victor. It wasn't his first time in China, but it was his first time visiting Xue Ming's hometown. He sat with his legs crossed, his journal resting on his lap, recording the local customs and scenery bit by bit.

Hearing Ling Weng ask this question--

--Victor immediately pointed towards the kitchen.

"Jack is more suspicious than you."

Jack Martin was jumping around in the kitchen. This old man was actually Evil Spirit Body, and he wanted to help his brother cook. Mr. Wen Bucai, wearing a tall hat, was running around in the back kitchen chasing after the ingredients and kitchen utensils that had been tainted by the demonic aura and naturally turned into Spirit Calamity —he was just making things worse.

Ling Weng, wearing a mask, revealed a pair of ghostly eyes peeking out from under his felt hat. He leaned close to Victor and said, "Detective King, you didn't tell the BOSS about this, did you?"

Teacher Victor's eyes were clear. "What is it?"

Ling Weng: "The fact that I secretly ran away."

Victor: "Actually, I've never understood why you, as the god of craftsmen, who must have attended countless similar parties during the Dionysus Festival and various carnivals, would be so concerned about my student."

"This is the War King's wedding. Unlike you, the War King will grow old and die; he might only get married this once in his life," the old man said solemnly. "Besides, I've worked so hard for so many years! What's wrong with me enjoying myself?"

As he became agitated, strange clanging sounds emanated from Ling Weng's body.

When the filming crew from the wedding and festival at the opening banquet, along with other helpers, looked over, they all found it strange. Ling Weng immediately sat up straight and dared not move.

The old sage whispered to Victor.

"Actually, there's another point. Boss and I haven't been back to the surface for many, many years because of the restrictions of the <Peerless Covenant>. It can't come back—but I can! I got to eat the gunsmith and 9527's wedding candy. How prestigious that is in front of it!"

Victor: "What a strange competitive spirit."

In the [Glorious Road], the lobby manager had just brought the newcomers here to prepare for the stone-granting ceremony.

When the two arrived in front of the statue made of bronze, iron, gold, and silver, Manager Marcus, with his keen Inspiration, immediately realized that the thing in front of him was a fake. The statue, with its dazed expression, collapsed to the ground with the slightest touch of his hand.

"FXCK!"

Ling Weng, in his boisterous manner, talked to Victor about gemology and personality formation, and about the fate of Xue Ming and Xiao Qi.

"I've given stones to so many people and come up with a few simple patterns. Detective King, write them down; you might need them when you write a book later!"

Victor accepted all requests and took notes.

Ling Weng said, "A golden stone like 9527 should prefer a colorless stone, or White Stone man."

Victor: "How so?"

"According to the theory of needs, Bai Qingqing is not short of money. Like a court official, she needs to find artists, priests to add embellishments, places to spend money, and spiritual sustenance."

Ling Weng then went on to describe it.

"Jiang Xueming is a colorless stone; his rationality and mechanical way of dealing with people are almost divine, which is mysterious and fatally attractive to Bai Qingqing."

At this point, Ling Weng looked at Victor with a meaningful expression.

"You and your students both have red stones, so my favorite pairing is red and blue—it can't be wrong."

Redstone's madness needs bluestone to soothe it.

The somberness of bluestone needs the stimulation of redstone.

This pair represents the unshakable yin and yang, water and fire, two opposing forces since ancient times.

Victor reached out and pulled the Bloodhound Lady out from under the table. The kind woman in her thirties immediately sat down next to Victor, not daring to say a word.

Ling Weng murmured softly, "Your students are all married, Victor."

The three musketeers were all old bachelors, and only Victor still had this waiter by his side. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, but he looked at Bloodhound Lady with a helpless and indebted feeling.

However, David Victor is a petty person, and he will still hold a grudge against Ling Weng's sarcastic and sarcastic attacks on marriage.

He secretly took a photo and sent it to an anonymous group.

[BOSS: Hey? Has anyone seen Ling Weng? I'm a newbie queuing up for stones! What's going on?]

[David Victor: Please view the flash photo on your phone]

[BOSS: Damn it!]

Bloodhound: "Your student is getting married, so I can come and see, right?"

Victor: "Yes."

Bloodhound adjusted his glasses and deliberately moved his chair closer to Victor: "Then I'll tell Teacher San San (3301) that if I catch the bouquet at the wedding, I'll confront Teacher Victor, so don't compete with me for this prize—what do you think?"

Victor didn't speak.

The Bloodhound retorted, "You're asking for it, aren't you! How many women are thirty years old anyway!"

Victor finally said, "Lapis Lazuli Guards have very long lifespans."

The Bloodhound's voice suddenly softened, as if it had lost its confidence. "That can't be... we can't keep waiting, damn it, we can't!"

"I've told the boss more than once that you can find another employer." Victor turned his head away, looking arrogantly elsewhere. His dark green eyes were suddenly exposed to the light, emerging from his golden hair into the light. He could look anywhere, but he didn't look into the Bloodhound's eyes.

The Bloodhound Lady remained silent for about ten seconds.

These ten seconds or so are very short, yet feel very long.

His inner thoughts were complex and difficult to describe in a few words.

She just wondered why Mr. David was so selfish.

--The lapis lazuli half-wolf can live for over two hundred years; perhaps he only loves his readers and no longer cares about his own family.

As for the suggestion of finding another employer, Bloodhound had heard it more than once, but each time David Victor entrusted Boss with the task. She simply felt that she would never give up unless Victor himself refused.

"Allow me to elaborate a bit more." Victor puffed out his chest, exuding arrogance. "Bloodhound Lady, I am an immortal, and I have witnessed far too much joy and sorrow. For a pet that has been with its owner for over a decade to leave becomes a deeply etched tragedy, capable of destroying one's mind and causing unbearable tears—and in the case of romantic love, it would be like a agonizing torture, a poison that gnaws at the heart. This is something I cannot accept. Therefore..."

Victor turned around and looked at Bloodhound Lady.

Then they saw the attendant stand close to Ling Weng, and Ling Weng whispered something to him.

"Stop arguing with him! This is China! You can act like a thug without breaking the law!"

Before Victor could figure out the implied meaning of "[This is China]" --

--The Bloodhound pounced on David, seizing him and using its blood to bully the arrogant immortal Homo sapiens, completely shattering the illusion.

As the groomsmen walked in, Meteor saw his teacher and his wife huddled together on the floor. Suddenly, he clutched his forehead, unable to bear looking at them.

Hasben Madison was the same; he saw the Detective King and his partner embracing "sweetly," and he felt nostalgic for the days when he fought alongside the Big Sister. He still didn't know that [Marika was Radagon], and his filial piety had completely changed.

Upon seeing this, Little Robert started wailing for Masha. Human joys and sorrows are all different, and lovesickness spares no one.

At this moment, the wedding emcee also came in. Mr. Chen Fugui changed into a neat Tang suit, picked up the groomsmen's clothes, and told his brothers to take them according to their size. After finishing the opening banquet, they would prepare to set off to pick up the bride.

The moment Mr. Chen appeared, everyone's attention was drawn to another part of the banquet. Wood Plark was happily gnawing on a leg of lamb when he suddenly slapped his forehead and stood up to greet him.

Before Professor Wood could even get close, Mr. Rich immediately said disdainfully, "Wipe your hands clean! How rude!"

Professor Wood smiled as he tidied himself up, took off his coat, and finally embraced his good brother who looked exactly like him.

On the other side, Victor was Bloodhound Lady's hugging and attack, unable to retaliate. His face flushed red, he didn't know how to fight back, and a long, long time passed...

He said to the bloodhound, "You're rude too."

The Bloodhound released his beloved. "Only this trick works on you! Trying to reason with a scholar is just exposing my own weaknesses!"

Victor suddenly burst out laughing, because he felt an inexplicable happiness, whether in reason or emotion, in body or soul.

Bloodhound: "What are you laughing at, you bastard!"

Victor: "I think you have to catch a plane soon. You need to catch the bouquet among the bridesmaids, so you'll have to be in Shanwei early."

Before she could finish speaking, Bloodhound slapped her forehead, finally realizing she'd gone to the wrong place! She dashed out the door, jumped into the Volga, and headed for the airport, without even saying goodbye.

Ling Weng laughed heartily, "I knew it! The BOSS would never misjudge! Never! Even the stone wouldn't lie!"

Mr. Chen Fugui squeezed next to Wood Plark, accidentally pushing Professor Wood's wife aside—and sitting between the couple, a move that was both playful and slightly unscrupulous.

These two brothers, who looked alike but had different genes, got along exceptionally well at the dinner table. They were both from the Philosopher Foundation; one worked at Tian Shu, and the other at the railway.

Professor Wood asked, "How is Sanqi (Wood's daughter) doing with you?"

"That young lady is so energetic, always asking me for pocket money, but her work attitude isn't great." Chen Fugui was very attentive, serving food to the professor and his wife, and talking about family matters. "Also, she doesn't like you calling her by that nickname, calling her Yaoyao is better."

Sima Yao is the daughter of Wood Plark and his wife Shao Xiaoxuan. She was raised by her adoptive father, Chen Fugui, because both of them worked for the underground transportation department.

Sima Yao's nickname is Sanqi. As Professor Plark said, this girl was influenced by Baphomet from a young age. She has a tail and is a powerful medium. It would be better for her to stay in Tian Shu. Therefore, she had to be entrusted to Uncle Fugui for discipline.

Sima Yao now has two fathers: her biological father, Wood Plark, and her stepfather, Chen Fugui.

"Don't you have anyone to rely on?" Wood's wife asked from the other side, "Ye Bei has been married for quite a while now."

Chen Fugui smiled awkwardly, "This can't be rushed."

The professor's wife first pinched Chen Fugui's cheek, then her husband's, finally confirming that the two were exactly alike, except for the tattoo on their necks, they were practically cut from the same mold.

Wood asked, "When will you change back to your own face?"

"I don't know." Chen Fugui shook his head. "Once you wear a mask for a long time, you can't take it off. If something happens to you one day, I'll have to cover for you. If something happens to me, you'll be in the same boat too."

"And"

The alias of the wealthy was Adams Vihar; his original name was Oroz.

--The ability of Soul Power is to change the physical form, including the age and gender of the physical essence, which is a very powerful mimicry ability.

"And I really don't remember."

Mr. Chen squinted, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"I don't remember whether I was male or female in the earliest days, I don't remember what I originally looked like, and that's fine too. Goat (Wood and Fugui's code names at the Philosopher Foundation, called [Bighorn Sheep] and [Goat], used to distinguish their functions and responsibilities) – it's really great to be able to meet again in this kind of setting."

The pleasantries among old acquaintances continued.

--The groom, who had just finished his makeup, came in with the wedding crew.

Xue Ming wasn't quite used to it yet. He didn't know that not only the bride had to dress up nicely for her wedding, but the groom also had to have his eyebrows done and his hair styled.

He was wearing a white suit. The wedding process involved picking up the bride in Shanwei, then going to Bu Mei's house in Hong Kong to change clothes, where he would serve tea to Aunt Bu Mei, Brother Ye Bei, and Uncle Bai Ningguang.

After greeting all the old and new friends and introducing themselves, Xue Ming immediately squeezed into the groomsmen group, found a spot, and started eating.

Hasben didn't understand. "Teacher, why do you need to serve tea at your aunt's house when you go to Shanwei to pick up your bride? Isn't it customary in Chinese weddings to bring the bride back to the groom's home?"

Xue Ming was stunned for a moment--

--It was Little Robert was sensible and explained to his senior brother, Hasben.

"Teachers don't have homes! Hahahaha!"

Xue Ming: "What are you laughing at?"

Little Robert suddenly stopped laughing and immediately changed his tune, "Teacher, the world is your home, the world is your home."

Xue Ming, however, began to laugh, carefully explaining to his brothers and apprentices, "This kid is right! Bailu and I grew up here, and Brother Ye Bei took us in. We have to set off from here."

He put his arm around Meteor's shoulder and spoke to the people sitting next to him.

"I'll take Xiao Qi to Aunt Bu Mei's house because Aunt Bu Mei accepted Bailu and me. She's not only A Xing's mother, but also Bailu's and my mother—I definitely have to serve tea to Aunt Bu Mei and bring the bride to her house."

"There's another thing," Xue Ming said frankly to the groomsmen, "It takes at least six hours to drive from here to Shanwei. Brothers, with me going back and forth like that, will the wedding still be able to go on?"

In modern society, there are still families who value rituals, and sending the bride on a high-speed train to pick her up, traversing most of China to marry someone from afar, is a journey of extraordinary significance.

Halfway through the opening banquet, the kitchen staff finally came out.

Wen Bucai, Jason, and Jack Martin returned to the table, along with several other kitchen helpers. They all looked shaken and disheveled, as if they had been tormented by the chaotic ghost story in the kitchen.

Wen Bucai grabbed Jack's hair and kept complaining, "I never want to go into the kitchen with you again! What a piece of trash! Does everything you touch come to life?!"

When the two squeezed to Victor's side, they saw Ling Weng's porcelain-like face.

Jack Martin: "It wasn't me! It really wasn't me! Don't blame me!"

Two tables apart, Tang Ning enthusiastically called out, "Winston!"

Jack replied with a grin, "Young Master! I've always been here!"

[Part ②·Shining Brightly]

Finally, Ye Bei arrived Teacher San San, accompanied by the cashier from the milk tea shop and his wife.

As soon as the cashier sat down, she started looking for "Ming Ge Xueming." Although she was older than Xue Ming and they had worked together at the milk tea shop from freshman to senior year of college, she had practically watched Xue Ming grow up. Now that this "brother" was getting married, the cashier was naturally indignant.

But when she glanced at the groom and groomsmen's table, she was completely captivated by them.

The group of handsome, strong-looking men around the table, mostly around 1.8 or 1.9 meters tall, dressed in sharp suits, included a red-haired Scottish man, a blond Welsh man, and finally, a black-haired man named A Xing. The groom, Jiang Xueming, stood out in the middle, appearing rather ordinary and unremarkable.

"Oh, you're back, why did you bring a gift?" The cashier's eyes were practically sparkling with hearts. Her head was spinning, and this attack of male beauty had driven her to the Madness Index. She was about to squeal like a chicken as she walked towards the groomsmen's table like a zombie.

Luckily, Ye Bei reacted quickly and grabbed the unfortunate child to bring her to her senses.

After dinner, before setting off, the wedding photographers need the groomsmen and bridal party to gather together.

The photographer said, "Everyone, get into a few classic poses, I'm going to film a pre-departure briefing! Get your spirits up, guys!"

Among the students and seniors who were familiar with Xue Ming, there were several people with lives on their hands. There was also Hasben, who came from a military background. After the photographer took his position, the group of guys stood around Xue Ming, and the photographer suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

"My god, that's too fierce! Be gentler, be gentler, just tone it down a bit!"

Hasben and Tang Ning were at a loss. Following the photographer's instructions, they changed their poses a few times and started laughing like fools along with Meteor, finally suppressing the murderous aura.

"Say it after me!"

The photographer was calling out, and the groomsmen were joining in.

"Here's a red envelope! I'll take care of the bride! Brothers! Let's go!"

This is a vintage car fleet that wedding program crews haven't seen in over a decade.

--Forget Mercedes-Benz- Benz and BMW, there isn't even an entry-level Audi. There are more than twenty Volga lined up from the Agricultural University.

The lead car was Xiao Qi and Xue Ming's vehicle. After the relatives and friends found their seats one by one, they set off for Shanwei in a grand procession after getting on the highway.

An old-fashioned radio was playing a playlist of blessings sent by the boss, including the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

When the convoy arrived in Taohe Town, the sun had become warm and pleasant, unlike the harsh morning sun.

Bai Ningguang sat at the street corner, dressed in a smart black suit, watching his son-in-law's grand motorcade arrive in the small town.

Downstairs in the apartment building for the elderly cadres, Brother William sat next to a small shop. This descendant of the fire giant was very nervous at this moment. He saw the children running and playing around, and felt that his clumsy and huge body was out of place with the other Homo sapiens. So he lowered his head, opened the paper, and repeatedly recited the blessing he had prepared in advance.

Due to his size, William couldn't easily get a ride, so he arrived at the bride's hometown a little earlier to wait for her.

When it came time for the games, Bai Ningguang led Jiang Xueming and the groomsmen in. He acted as both father and mother, running upstairs to greet the girls and start the ceremony, and then running downstairs to serve tea and water to the groomsmen.

The Bai family doesn't have many relatives. Uncle Guang came to Shanwei to make a living on his own and had long since left the main family. Only his brothers from the police station came to support him.

A small courtyard was temporarily fenced off at the entrance of the apartment building. As soon as Xue Ming and his students and brothers entered, they saw Bailu and Sima Yao, acting as the wedding officiants, leading three bridesmaids, all wearing red veils.

This step is very simple; it's called choosing bridesmaids. You have to select Teacher San San from among several bridesmaids.

Everyone burst out laughing when they heard this—this was no challenge for A Xing; it was practically a freebie.

Bailu exclaimed loudly, "You only have three chances! If you choose wrong, you'll have to give a red envelope! And there will be a punishment!"

Meteor: "What punishment?! Let me do it!"

Sima Yao: "The punishment is just eating lemons, that's no problem for you!"

Three bridesmaids blocked the entrance on the first floor, demanding that Meteor reveal Teacher San San's true identity.

--Besides 3301, the bridesmaid was also Bloodhound Lady, who is Teacher San San's aunt in the Lapis Lazuli race. The two have extremely similar pheromones, making them very difficult to distinguish.

The other was Bai Qingqing's best friend from before she went to the labor camp. They were the "bad friends" among bad friends. When they worked as newspaper boys, the two girls were good partners in swindling and cheating.

Bu Liuxing stepped forward and took a closer look. The three bridesmaids were all wearing loose long dresses, making it impossible to tell them apart, and their heights were also similar.

He moved closer to smell the 3301 perfume—but Sima Yao and Bailu stopped him.

That's impolite! You can't do that!

Meteor, holding her breath, said to Bailu, "You little brat, why are you siding with outsiders? I'm helping your brother get through this—I look down on you!"

Bailu: "Hahahahahahahahahaha!"

Meteor sensed something was wrong. Giving up a red envelope was a minor issue; what if Teacher San San really held a grudge?

He immediately shouted, "San San! Answer me!"

The three bridesmaids remained silent and motionless.

The meteor then shouted, "3301! I love you!~ I love you so much!~"

The three bridesmaids remained silent.

Meteor immediately exclaimed, "Something's fishy! My girlfriend can't possibly be this calm!"

He looked left and right, searching along the artificial landscape trees in the courtyard towards the flower bed, and finally pulled his beloved out from under the low table in the flower bed.

"Oh my!" 3301 exclaimed, both surprised and delighted.

Meteor, holding her lover, escorted Teacher San San back to the bridesmaids' line. "No problem for me!"

Sima Yao conceded defeat with a cupped fist. "Impressive! You're not as dim-witted as the intelligence reports suggested!"

Bailu still blocked the door. "Where's the red envelope! Where's the red envelope!"

Xue Ming immediately went forward and asked his sister to exchange a red envelope for the key to the iron gate on the first floor.

The second challenge consisted of eighteen cups of wine placed on the stairs.

--Each glass contains a full two hundred milliliters, all of it strong liquor.

Robert Tang Ning's eyes lit up. "I'll do it! I'll do it!"

He took a step and bowed his head, picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. It was as if he was drinking baijiu for the first time. At first, his eyes narrowed, and then he immediately stuck out his tongue because of the spiciness. Finally, he tasted the wine and began to gulp it down.

Seeing this foreigner drinking baijiu as easily as drinking water, Sima Yao's eyes widened. "What's up with this guy? The groom?"

Jiang Xueming: "This student of mine had a previous relationship. After that, he couldn't live without alcohol."

Sima Yao rolled her eyes. "Alright, stop explaining, I understand."

Upon reaching the main gate, Uncle Bai Ningguang's small house didn't have enough space for other games, so he didn't arrange for anyone to block the door. If these burly men really wanted to kick the door, even the gate of the Madness Butterfly Sect wouldn't be enough to cause trouble, let alone this residential building.

Sima Yao said, "The last little game is dart throwing. You have to hit the light switch from about ten meters away and turn on the lights in the bride's room."

As he said this, a box of small darts was handed to Xue Ming.

Xue Ming picked up one of them and examined it closely; this thing was really not easy to throw.

--Its tail feathers have counterweights made of lead, so throwing it requires skill. You have to spin it like throwing a knife to hit the target, otherwise it will bounce off its tail. Uncle Ningguang's light switches are all Thumb- sized buttons, which is a bit difficult.

Sima Yao's eyes lit up, and she raised her hand, saying, "What? Is this difficult for you?"

Xue Ming remained silent, only smiling.

He picked up a handful of darts and threw them, but most of them landed on the ground without hitting anything.

Sima Yao immediately said, "Oh! Red envelope! Thank you, groom! Happy wedding!"

Xue Ming immediately took Little Red from the wedding candy plate and gave them to the emcee, and also gave a few more to her younger sister.

Meteor's expression twisted into a ferocious grin. "Wow! Ming Ge! This is such a freebie! It's too obvious!"

Immediately afterwards, Xue Ming continued throwing darts, but he still couldn't hit the target. So he continued to hand out red envelopes to the neighborhood children, to Sima Yao and her sister, and to the three bridesmaids.

When all the darts in the plate were thrown, and not a single one remained.

Xue Ming's forehead was covered in hot sweat.

--I heard the bride yelling and cursing inside the house.

"You can't even hit it?! What the hell is going on?! How long do I have to wait?!"

Hasben didn't understand these social niceties. He called upon the [Spark Queen] to light the lamp for his teacher. After all, if you want a cat to catch a mouse, you can't put unnecessary bells on it.

As soon as the lights came on, Xiao Qi, dressed in a phoenix-embroidered robe and embroidered crown, rushed out, picked up Xue Ming, and brought him to his father, offering him a cup of tea.

Ming Ge was completely dumbfounded by the spectacle.

Bai Qingqing said, "I built all these muscles just so I could carry you!"