CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: FACE EATEN (PART 1)

Nezha looked at Li Jing, thinking to himself that if he really became violent, Li Jing would have no idea what he was capable of; there Li Jing stood, unarmed, while he himself could unleash all of his magic treasures. If they really came to blows, it would become quickly apparent who would fall.

But in such moments, he was inexplicably calmer. Nezha knew that although he could kill Li Jing, he couldn’t just do it in their own home.

It might be a relief for him, but what would his mother think? And his sisters at home, how would they see him?

Not just them, but also those two brothers of his who had gone to the mountains to learn arts and had never met him.

Both Jinzha and Muzha were incredibly skilled. If he really killed Li Jing just like that, he would be making enemies out of nothing.

Keep calm.

That’s what Nezha was contemplating as he looked at Li Jing.

"It must be done outside, perhaps through using someone else’s hand. If Li Jing remains alive, Chentang Pass will never have a day of peace."

Feeling Nezha’s gaze, Li Jing’s heart was pounding fiercely until he saw that Nezha only snorted coldly and turned away to leave; only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He then realized that in just a short while, his undershirt was soaked with cold sweat, and his shoulders felt as if the bones were shattered, the pain intolerable.

By the time Nezha returned to his room, it was evening, and since Lu Zhu’er was still in his house, her sister Cui Yu came over to help out.

Seeing Nezha covered in dirt and looking upset, she was surprised and said, "You child, who’s provoked you again? Your clothes are dirty, and you seem unhappy."

Cui Yu hurriedly helped him take off his clothes; as a stewardess in the house, she was like a half-master when the actual masters were not around, usually directing others to work – it was rare to see someone like herself who attended to Nezha’s needs every day.

Nezha just shook his head and said nothing.

Cui Yu hung up the dirty clothes and while straightening out the bed sheets, she said, "I’d guess it’s that issue with little Lv Zhu’er. That poor girl is lucky to have met our Nezha. Someone will take care of her and provide for her in the future. Otherwise, if it were someone else, with the worker of the house dead, that family wouldn’t need to think about living on."

If it were someone else.

In this wicked world where people prey on others, how could this "someone else" be in short supply?

Nezha was mulling over this when suddenly, he felt a shock in his heart. He remembered that Lv Zhu’er had also embarked on the path of cultivation, but she had not yet reached the stage where she could freely control her inspiration realm.

To the eyes of a cultivator, how conspicuous would that warm yellow halo of hers be?

Feng Xiaonian was also a cultivator.

He had already seen Lv Zhu’er during the day.

Would he eliminate her as a potential threat?

At this thought, Nezha felt a chill in his heart and wanted to leave immediately, but then he remembered that his Five Elements Escape Technique had been sealed by Li Jing, and at this hour, to go to Lizhu Village would take at least an hour’s journey.

When worried, one’s thoughts become confused. Anxious in his heart, Nezha felt relief hearing someone approach from outside. From afar, he could hear the ceaseless chatter of Hong Fei:

"You’re young and need to be looked after by adults at home. Stay in the house for now, you won’t have to do any chores, and I’ll talk to the lady, ask for a bit more pocket money for you each month. She’s kind-hearted, surely she will agree."

"Ah, such a dear little girl, your eyes have gotten red and swollen from crying, no longer looking pretty."

"Come, smile for me, and tomorrow I’ll pick a piece of jewelry from the house to bring over for you."

...

Nezha smiled and shook his head, hurriedly stepping forward to open the door. He hadn’t expected Hong Fei, usually so hot-tempered, to have such attentiveness to order someone to bring Lv Zhu’er back to the estate.

Holding Lv Zhu’er in his arms, Nezha asked with a smile while Hong Fei on the other end also smiled, saying, "I’m so busy, almost to death, I can’t manage everything. It was the lady of the house who, upon hearing the news, had me send for the girl to come back home first. Look at you; it’s only been a few days apart, and you miss her so much, you’re like a little child, not knowing to be ashamed."

Nezha shook his head, thinking to himself that Hong Fei was good in many ways, except for being too talkative.

He said, "Hong Fei, you’ve been with mother for so long, yet you haven’t picked up any of her good qualities."

No sooner had these words left his mouth than Cui Yu scolded him, saying, "Enough, enough, why take your displeasure out on us sisters? The lady said that tomorrow she will allow you to take Lv Zhu’er to Bailing Town to have a stroll and relax, while also paying a visit to Mr. Fan."

The sisters stayed for a while longer before leaving. Nezha lifted Lv Zhu’er onto the bed and, looking at the downtrodden little girl, he pinched her nose gently and said, "Little girl, with brother Nezha, my mother, Hong Fei, and Lv Cui around, no one will dare to bully you. You’ve cried all day; if you cry any more, your eyes will get ruined. Now have a good sleep and rest for a while."

Lv Zhu’er sobbed twice, and seeing Nezha watching her, she held back her tears from falling and said in her childish voice, "Brother Nezha, I, I already had a nap this afternoon."

Nezha’s lips slightly curled into a smile, and he said, "Since you can’t sleep, then let’s cultivate. Tonight, we’ll stay up on this bed busily all night until we get you officially into the inspiration realm."

The world often turns out this way—full of vigor at the outset, only to find countless difficulties when you actually get to work. Everything is hardest at the beginning. After a whole night of cultivation, there was still no progress.

Lv Zhu’er couldn’t help thinking that she was too dull, unable to do even such a simple task after several days.

Nezha, on the other hand, sighed, thinking to himself that geniuses like him were indeed rare in the world. He didn’t take it to heart; as Mr. Fan had said, the path of cultivation indeed had to be taken step by step. Take too broad a step, and you risk straining your groin.

The next morning, Nezha carried Lv Zhu’er on his back, sniffing the pleasant milky scent on his shoulder, and said, "It’s a perfect day to take you out to the town to have fun. Today, let’s buy all the good food and fun things we want."

They say children are resilient; two days ago she cried her eyes out like rain-hit pears, and this morning her eyes were still swollen like two big light bulbs. But now, after a couple of rounds on the bustling street, her attention was instantly caught by the splendor in front of her.

Nezha didn’t want Lv Zhu’er to think of any sad things again, so he really did take her to buy, buy, buy, eat, eat, eat, which turned out to be at a roadside stand where an old man without even a proper shop was selling two bowls of wonton noodles.

Lv Zhu’er was clever and adroit with her chopsticks, holding them steady. Sadly, her mouth was too small—a small wonton had to be eaten in three bites before fitting into her mouth.

Nezha laughed and said, "Eat slowly. Which store’s food is delicious, which is cheap yet of good value, Mr. Fan’s attendant student has told me all about it. You’re out with me, young master, for a stroll today. Rest assured, we won’t be on the losing end in anything we buy."

Although it seemed a bit like showing off knowledge and pretending to be scholarly in front of a child, after all, she was their own precious little girl. Seeing the joy in her eyes turning into a crescent shape, even if he was pretending, when else should he show off if not now?

Hearing him speak, a smile finally appeared on little Lu Zhu’s face. The old noodle vendor also wiped his nearly blind, cloudy eyes, and said with a laugh, "Young master has good taste. The noodles at our stand are more robust than those of other places, with thin-skinned wontons with big filling, and even the soup for cooking the noodles is made from a good broth extracted from pork bones. It would be odd if they didn’t taste good."

Hearing this, Nezha, proud, said to Lv Zhu’er, "You see, was I not right?"

Lv Zhu’er slurped a mouthful of noodles, took out a small handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth, then nodded seriously, and said solemnly, "Young master is the most awesome!"

Nezha affectionately touched Lv Zhu’er’s fluffy head, then turned to ask the old man, "Boss, how much for two bowls of noodles?"

The old man laughed and shook his head, heaving a sigh and said, "I recognize you, Nezha, the young hero who ended the Sea Dragon King’s sacrifices. You’ve done such a great thing for the people of Chentang Pass, how could I possibly charge you for these noodles.

Ah, if my grandson hadn’t died last year, he would be about your age too."