From Family Fisherman to Water Virtue True Immortal-Chapter 33: Quanfu

Li Quanqing's last visit to his uncle's home was when it was as bustling as a marketplace, with guests crowding like clouds, and the exterior crowded with clansmen coming to present gifts.

But now, it had become so quiet that even sparrows shunned it.

More precisely, even sparrows would disdain this place, with cobwebs on the signboard, stone gates half-closed, and the courtyard overgrown with fragrant grass.

"Bad luck! Bad luck!"

An old man, passing by with his grandson, spat towards the courtyard wall, his eyes filled with disgust.

Cultivators have very good memories, almost photographic.

Li Quanqing remembered this old fellow; he was the one who respectfully queued outside his uncle's door, bearing gifts last time.

He had also looked down on the big green fish he brought as a gift for being too common.

Who would have thought that times would change and people's hearts would turn so fickle!

"Greetings to the master!"

Old Deng's eyes lit up when he saw the Magic Robe on him, and he quickly pulled his grandson along to bow and hurry over. "Qian'er, don't you hurry to pay respects to the Artifact Refiner master!"

Li Quanqing shook his head, not bothering with him, pushed open the half-closed gate, and walked straight in.

Leaving the old man behind, bewildered, the ignorant child, on the other hand, cheerfully chased crickets among the weedy grass.

...

Walking in the Cave Mansion, Li Quanqing found the stone steps overgrown with wild grass, the place in a state of disrepair and decline.

His aunt was such a diligent person, yet even she lacked the heart to tend to her own home, which showed that something significant must have happened.

By the pond in the garden, Li Quanzhu was scooping up waterweed; seeing Li Quanqing, he snorted, "What brings you here?"

"Checking on your dad, and also to see you."

"Here to watch us in our misery, I bet!"

Li Quanzhu's words were biting, but he still led the way ahead.

The two of them were very silent along the way.

"Teach me how to raise the Green Jade Carps."

Li Quanzhu suddenly spoke up, head hung low, his voice muffled as he kept kicking pebbles on the path.

Li Quanqing was surprised; he hadn't expected the boy to say such a thing. "Aren't you studying Artifact Refining anymore?"

"No Spirit Stones, no resources. My dad won't let me study any longer."

The boy turned his face away, his eyes brimming with tears, filled with reluctance. "Besides, my mom is too tired. I want to help her out."

After pondering for a moment, Li Quanqing spoke the harsh truth: "Your dad plans to sell the fishpond, so even if you wanted to be a fish farmer, I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible."

Li Quanzhu stood frozen on the spot, suddenly feeling as though the sky was collapsing, his future bleak.

"Quanqing, you're here..."

Li Quanqing, upon seeing his aunt, felt she seemed to have aged two or three decades, her face etched with exhaustion.

Li Yurou looked at the Green Jade Carp in her nephew's hand, initially intending to refuse, but considering the family's current situation.

The woman opened her mouth to decline but ended up accepting it after all: "First go and see your uncle."

Li Yuheng was drinking at the time, seemingly quite happy, humming a little tune, tossing peanuts into his mouth as he drank.

"Dad, I... my brother Quanqing is here to see you."

Li Quanzhu called out, shrinking his neck, his face showing a trace of fear.

"Tsch! What's he here for, surely up to no good."

Li Yuheng scoffed, not bothering to rise to greet his guest, continuing to eat and drink to his heart's content.

"Uncle."

Li Quanqing greeted, his face wearing a perfunctory smile.

He glanced at the man's empty sleeve; his left arm was cut straight off at the root, damaging his foundation, meaning he would never have the chance to achieve Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.

"You, you've actually become an Artifact Refiner, Qi Refining Fifth Level, not bad, not bad!"

"Truly worthy of being the child my big sister left behind!"

Li Yuheng had a look that said he had seen through everything: "Out of all times, you choose to come now, do you also want that fishpond?"

Hearing this, Li Quanzhu beside him grew even more despondent, his palms clenched tightly over his clothing.

"After all, it's the family business passed down from our ancestors. Falling into others' hands would just be a mockery."

Li Quanqing was forthright, never one to beat around the bush, prepared to make a significant sacrifice.

"What a pity, what a pity!"

Li Yuheng was drinking and chewing his food, making loud smacking noises with his mouth: "Had I known you would come, I'd have waited before selling. The highest bidder wins!"

"You sold our family's fish pond?!"

More agitated than Li Quanqing was the aunt who had just walked in.

Her eyes immediately reddened like a mother animal protecting her cubs, and she pounced forward, clawing and snapping: "That pond was meant for Quanzhu's future artifact refining and cultivation. How could you... how could you sell it, waaaah..."

"Woman, stop nagging! My property, I'll sell if I want to! Do I need to discuss it with a hag like you!"

Li Yuheng's expression turned impatient in an instant, mana surged, overturning the table and cups, and he pushed his aunt to the ground.

Li Quanzhu who was beside tried to help his mother but received a couple of slaps as well.

"Enough!"

Clang!!

A sword cry rang out, and a sword light suddenly flew out from Li Quanqing's sleeve, circling several times around Li Yuheng's neck in the blink of an eye.

In the end, the Green Carp Sword hung just inches in front of the man's eyes, with the Geng Metal Sword Light pulsating and intent to kill overwhelming.

"You've gone too far. Who did you sell the fish pond to in the end!"

Li Quanqing asked with a cold stare.

The sword light was like a star, pressing against the forehead, and a bone-chilling cold enveloped his entire body.

Li Yuheng was scared, sweating profusely, stammering with his lips, wanted to scold his nephew but chickened out in the end and grumpily spoke: "Two thousand Spirit Stones, sold it to that old fellow Li Kunshui."

Li Kunshui?

Li Quanqing immediately envisioned that elder who'd go 'puff puff' smoking his pipe, always smiling at people, friendly and believing in good fortune through friendliness.

This was a bit tricky.

"Bully the weak and fear the strong, you better watch yourself!"

Li Quanqing took one last look at his uncle, and left with a cold snort.

In the end, it was still Li Quanzhu who escorted him to the gate, with bright red slap marks on his face, burning with pain.

The youth was staring at his toes, tears finally uncontrollably streaming down, murmuring a thank you: "Tha... thank you, brother!"

Li Quanqing looked at the 15-year-old child, did not say much, just patted his shoulder.

"It's time to grow up, Quanzhu."

He took out a small booklet, which contained the insights of his fish farming.

Even without a pond of his own, he could still rent one, work for those big pond owners as a fisherman, and save up Spirit Stones.

Determination wasn't something you shouted out loud, it had to be proven with actions.

He hoped his cousin could truly demonstrate his determination through concrete actions.

Li Quanqing waved goodbye, indicating there was no need to see him off.

...

Sea Moon above the sea, Green Jade hanging in the sky.

It was getting late, and Li Quanqing couldn't be bothered returning to the fish pond.

He walked on the bluestone path home, the more he thought the angrier he got, and he finally couldn't help but curse out loud.

Once he vented the frustration in his heart, he reached home.

Unexpectedly, amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, there were two people standing at his door, apparently waiting for quite a while.

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The spark glowing on and off under the tree looked like flashing fireflies, with a faint smell of tobacco seeping into his nostrils.

Li Quanqing thought of someone, calling out uncertainly: "Uncle Nineteen?"

"Eh~ Brother Qing, you're finally home!"

The person in the dark laughed heartily, his voice aged, and as he stepped into the moonlight, it was indeed the dearly missed Li Kunshui.

Behind the old man was a plump and wealthy-looking young man in an earthy yellow Daoist robe, exuding a naive yet shrewd demeanor.

They were both soaked, indicating they had been standing there for quite some time.

"The early spring is cold and damp to the bone, Uncle, please come inside quickly!"

Li Quanqing hurriedly spoke.

"No trouble, no trouble!"

"The old man heard that Brother Qing became the family's Artifact Refiner and specially prepared a congratulatory gift, I'll leave as soon as I deliver it, no bother at all."

Li Kunshui spoke with a smile, tapping his smoking pipe on the head of the chubby young man, which made a thudding sound:

"Quanfu, bring out the congratulatory gift quickly, let your cousin see if he likes it."