Testing My Grandfather

Chen Changhong was somewhat bewildered by the situation.

Deep down, a faint suspicion stirred within him that this might be a trap.

For instance, perhaps the bandits had interrogated his grandfather before killing him, extracting certain information.

Such as the fact that "his grandson is a cultivator."

Given the behavior and seasoned social acumen of the Yanhe Pavilion proprietor, Chen Changhong felt that he might have arranged for someone to impersonate his grandfather's reincarnation, either to resolve a grudge or to exploit him.

If that were the case, and the Yanhe Pavilion proprietor had pressed for enough details, this "Chen Guan" might know everything necessary to successfully impersonate his grandfather.

Chen Changhong had heard of similar occurrences during his travels.

Back then, a tree demon had devoured a swordsman and destroyed his soul.

The swordsman had a close friend who was a cultivator.

Upon learning of this, the tree demon, fearing death, bewitched a man to impersonate the swordsman's reincarnation and become friends with the cultivator.

When the cultivator tracked down the tree demon, he found the two had already become sworn brothers.

Under normal circumstances, if the "reincarnated party" had sworn brotherhood with the enemy, the matter would simply be dropped.

If he insisted on killing, it would likely lead to a messy fallout.

For example, the swordsman might hate the cultivator, blaming him for killing his friend, and become mortal enemies.

However, the cultivator had investigated in secret, seen through the tree demon's scheme, discovered the impostor, and ultimately avenged his friend.

The schemes of demons, ghosts, and men are manifold.

Truth and falsehood are difficult to distinguish.

However, there was a faster shortcut for verification.

That was the "Soul-Searching Secret Technique."

But Chen Changhong understood the risks.

While using secret arts to search a soul could reveal specific details, if this person truly was his grandfather's reincarnation, then using such a method would be, firstly, an act of unfilial impiety.

Secondly, it would damage the soul.

Thirdly, what if the person lacked memories of their past life, yet was indeed his grandfather's reincarnation, and he ended up damaging his soul? What was he to do then?

Now, standing by the lake and watching Chen Guan and Bandit Brother walk into the tavern with their arms around each other, Chen Changhong was caught in a dilemma, feeling that if he knew less, he might not have so many worries.

But precisely because he was a practitioner, he knew too much.

Coupled with the fact that it concerned his grandfather, he wanted to investigate the matter thoroughly to avoid being manipulated by villains who would use his filial piety to lure him into a trap.

"In the world of martial arts, spirits, and ghosts, everyone deceives one another."

At night, inside a civilian house, Chen Changhong sat cross-legged in meditation.

The more critical the situation, the more he felt he needed to keep his composure.

As he gradually calmed his mind, he considered three strategies to resolve the matter.

"The City God has methods to observe spirits and could take my grandfather... Young Hero Chen... to visit the Underworld Bureau..."

Chen Changhong pondered, his gaze shifting toward the north.

"If the City God cannot discern the truth, my grandmaster has nearly a thousand years of cultivation and is proficient in the soul-searching arts of the three souls and seven spirits; he might be able to verify Young Hero Chen's past-life wisdom. I could take Young Hero Chen to my sect then... and ask my grandmaster to identify him. Furthermore, I only arrived here today; I could make inquiries to see when this man was born and what he has experienced."

Chen Changhong thought of this and suddenly sighed, saying:

"Grandfather, do not blame your grandson. The pugilistic world is truly treacherous, and I have been deceived far too many times.

Now, I simply do not wish for some scoundrels to use your name and deny you peace."

That night.

With the intention of gathering information, Chen Changhong arrived outside an inn in the north of the town.

He had passed by and heard mentions of "Chen Guan, Young Hero Chen" as well as the "Zhao Family Fifth Young Master."

"Are you staying for a meal, sir? Or perhaps..."

At the same time, the waiter saw the guest arrive and greeted him at the door.

"I wish to ask you about a few things."

Chen Changhong thought for a moment. Instead of going inside to question the guests, he took a tael of silver from his sleeve and said quite bluntly:

"I heard those men chatting about Young Hero Chen Guan. Who is this person? Is he very famous in these parts?"

"Oh!" The waiter had initially wanted to refuse upon seeing so much silver, but after hearing Chen Changhong's question, he breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"Young master, you gave me such a large tip that I was startled, thinking it was something serious...

I never expected it to be about Young Hero Chen!"

The waiter nodded and bowed as he spoke: "You gave too much silver, for basically everyone in town knows Young Hero Chen."

"Just keep it," Chen Changhong said dismissively. "I only wish to know who this Young Hero Chen is, and what this Zhao Family Fifth Young Master is about."

"Many thanks, sir!" The waiter quietly took the silver and, turning his back to the innkeeper, tucked it into his pocket.

"You have asked the right person!"

The waiter spoke quickly and in detail, recounting the birth of Chen Guan twenty years ago.

He covered Chen Guan running away from home over a decade ago.

He also detailed the changing of his name and the annihilation of the Liu Family.

Chen Changhong listened intently, his heart stirring as he realized the timing of his grandfather's death seemed to align.

As for why his kind and timid grandfather would be so ruthless in his next life, he found it quite normal, perhaps because he had not "awakened his past-life wisdom."

The personality of a reincarnation is naturally a new one.

However, this sudden change of name left him somewhat puzzled.

Has my grandfather awakened, or has he not?

Chen Changhong was curious, so under the waiter's excited gaze, he took out another tael and handed it to him.

"Why did this Zhao Family young master change his name?"

"This..." The waiter heard this and gave a dry laugh, pushing the silver back. "He just changed it suddenly."

At this point, the waiter bowed apologetically:

"If you ask me why? I am merely a waiter in a small shop; how could I know the mind of the Zhao Family Fifth Young Master?

Asking me this is making things difficult for me...

But Young Hero Chen is usually at Yanhe Pavilion.

The people over at Yanhe Pavilion should know a bit more."

"Many thanks for the information." Chen Changhong looked at the waiter for a few moments, and feeling there was nothing left to ask, he pushed the silver back.

"Take it."

Now that he had the basic information, Chen Changhong decided to approach Chen Guan personally.

He would see if he could probe for some answers.

If he could not, he would search the innkeeper's soul, or descend into the Underworld Bureau to petition the City God once more, asking Judge Wuwen to interrogate him.

As for Young Hero Chen Guan, Chen Changhong felt complex and conflicted about him.

But if all else failed, he would take him back to his sect and have the grandmaster "seek the soul and question the spirit."

Late at night, by the lake.

Chen Guan was watching the boats and admiring the moon by the lake outside Yanhe Pavilion.

Bandit Brother was inside the restaurant settling the accounts.

Whenever this time came, Chen Guan liked to sit alone for a while before returning home with Bandit Brother.

Just then.

By the lakeshore not far away, Chen Changhong, dressed in the attire of a wandering swordsman and deliberately styled to appear more mature—looking to be in his thirties—was strolling over from the distance.

As he walked.

Chen Changhong was scrutinizing Chen Guan, finding his appearance strange, or perhaps a bit peculiar.

Yet, such a physique was truly magnificent!

The difference between him and his own grandfather was not just a small margin.

Is he truly the reincarnation of my grandfather?

While observing, Chen Changhong found himself, quite unconsciously, continuing to size up Chen Guan.

"Hm?" Chen Guan heard footsteps and cast a casual glance over. Upon seeing a stranger staring at him, he turned his gaze toward the man as well.

As the two stared at each other.

The distance between them grew shorter.

After observing for a dozen seconds, Chen Changhong withdrew his gaze and simply walked toward Chen Guan, coming to a stop two meters away.

Chen Guan, however, kept tilting his head to watch Chen Changhong, until he made Chen Changhong feel somewhat awkward, at which point he snapped back to his senses and said:

"My apologies, brother. I was momentarily lost in thought; I did not mean to stare."

"Mm." Chen Changhong nodded indifferently, saying nothing more, and simply looked out at the small boat on the lake.

His heart was suddenly racing with nervousness; he did not know what to ask or what to say.

He was filled with anticipation, yet terrified that this might be a misunderstanding or a trap.

Chen Guan also remained silent, frowning as he gazed at the lake.

It was not until several minutes later.

Chen Changhong finally mustered some courage, suppressed his anxiety, and asked Chen Guan with curiosity:

"Why were you staring at me earlier?"

Chen Changhong believed no one knew him, especially now that he had deliberately disguised himself.

Yet this Young Hero Chen had been looking at him with such confusion, as if there were flowers blooming on his face.

He felt a great deal of curiosity regarding that strange gaze.

"To tell you the truth."

Hearing the stranger's inquiry, Chen Guan shook his head and spoke frankly:

"When I saw you earlier, I suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of closeness and familiarity.

That is why I was so offensive just now; please forgive me."

In his speech, Chen Guan felt a natural, unprovoked fondness for this stranger, his tone carrying a distinct warmth that invited intimacy.

Unconsciously, there was a hint of the affection an elder feels for a younger generation.

Chen Guan did not even realize it himself.

But out of politeness.

Facing someone he naturally wanted to be close to, Chen Guan decided to ask for the other party's name first.

"I keep feeling that you resemble an old acquaintance of mine. May I ask... your name, brother?"

Resemble... familiar? And this tone, it's just like my grandfather...

Hearing the word "familiar," along with that gentle, elder-like tone, Chen Changhong felt his heart give a violent tug.

In a certain sense, he even felt that Chen Guan's fierce appearance was slowly fading, overlapping with the memory of his aged, kind-hearted grandfather.

But he had had too little contact so far.

If he rashly revealed his real name, it might be a trap.

Therefore.

The cautious Chen Changhong quickly recited a calming mantra to steady his agitated mind, and replied in as calm a tone as he could manage:

"I... I... my name is Li Changyuan..."

Though Chen Changhong claimed to be calm, his voice was slightly choked, and his eyes were a little red.

"Grandfather... are you truly his next life?"

"Hero Li?" Chen Guan found it very strange that this person was on the verge of tears for no reason, but he returned the salute with a fist-palm gesture.

"I am Chen Guan."

As the words fell.

Chen Guan did not know where this "intuitive awkwardness," similar to that of Bandit Brother, came from.

Moreover, he did not recognize this man's name.

If all else failed, perhaps he should dress as a thief in the middle of the night, corner this Hero Li, and put him to the test?