?29: Chapter 25: Four Grandfathers 29: Chapter 25: Four Grandfathers Off the bus!

    Li Chen was the last one off the bus.

    After the bus reached Jingyang County, it was deserted, and looking up at the setting sun on the horizon, Li Chen could tell it was almost evening without a doubt.

    “I wonder if those four old geezers have missed me.” Li Chen smiled slightly.

    The four grandpas were indeed the closest people to him.

    Since he had memory, he didn’t know who his parents were.

    Until he was fifteen, he lived with the four grandpas.

    That familiar village, the familiar mountains, I’m coming back soon, Li Chen spread his arms, wanting to shout with joy.

    “Big brother, you’re blocking my way.” A childlike voice came from behind.

    Startled, Li Chen turned around and saw a seven or eight-year-old kid on a bicycle, staring at him with a serious expression.

    A string of crows flew overhead.

    Eventually, Li Chen found a way to hitch a ride, on a tractor puffing black smoke, with a lean old man smoking a dry pipe in front.

    Li Chen sat on the tractor, its engine sounding like the wheezing of an elderly person, as if it would fall apart with just a touch.

    “It’s rare for a young lad like you to appreciate my old tractor.” The lean old man took a drag on his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

    “Those melon heads in the village don’t know what’s good for them.

    This tractor’s been running for more than a decade without showing any signs of breaking down.”

    Er, Li Chen blinked, was he implying he only praised the old man’s vehicle for a ride?

    “Did you come from the city?” the old man looked back at Li Chen, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

    Li Chen nodded, “Yes, I’m coming back to find my grandfathers.”

    “Respectful.” The old man nodded, “There aren’t many good youngsters like you.

    My good-for-nothing son doesn’t come home to see me unless it’s the New Year.”

    “Haha, uncle, your son has to make money, of course, he’s busy,” Li Chen chuckled.

    The old man took another puff of his pipe, “Young fellow, what do you do in the city?”

    “I’m kind of like a manager.” Li Chen blurted out casually.

    “Manager, huh?

    Powerful position.” The old man laughed heartily, “One guy from our village, Zhang Erwa, is now a manager too, and he’s doing so well.”

    After some idle chatter and as the sky was getting dark, Li Chen looked up and saw the familiar silhouette of a large mountain.

    Behind it was a range of mountains, and at the foot of the mountain, there was a small village with dim lights flickering.

    “Here I am, thank you, uncle.” Li Chen jumped off the tractor.

    “Good that you’ve arrived.” The lean old man laughed and then continued to drive the tractor forward.

    Panlong Village!

    Surrounded by mountains on three sides, I remember asking my grandfather why he chose to build the village here.

    Fourth Grandfather said with a laugh that this place was where spirit veins converged, making it a blessed land of hidden treasures.

    Li Chen approached the village, and as soon as he got closer, he heard a faint cough.

    At the sound of the cough, his eyes moistened slightly.

    Grandpa, I’m back!

    As he reached the door, Li Chen was about to push it open, but a voice came from inside: “You’re still such a playful kid, coming back this late?”

    Li Chen paused, pushed the door open, and saw three old men sitting inside, the room brightly lit.

    Sitting on the left was Fourth Grandfather, clad in a white robe, his goatee almost reaching his chest, and despite his childlike face marked with age spots, his eyes were bright and lively.

    On the right sat Third Grandpa, dressed in green, with a strong scent of herbs emanating from him, an aroma that seemed permanently attached to him.

    Third Grandpa’s hair was coiled up, secured with a hairpin reminiscent of ancient Taoist priests, giving off an immortal-like aura.

    Sitting at the head of the room was an elder in a dark blue robe.

    His presence was steady and enduring, his face commanding respect even without anger.

    Yet upon seeing Li Chen, a smile crept across his face.

    “Grandpa, I’m back.”

    “You stinky kid, you still remember to come back.” Third Grandpa immediately puffed up his beard and glared, “I haven’t forgotten how you messed up my medicinal garden.”

    Li Chen pouted, “Don’t be so petty.

    It’s not like I don’t know you’ve got several more in the back mountain.”

    “Oh, you’re eyeing the few treasures I have left, you cheeky brat!” Third Grandpa’s eyes widened in indignation.

    “Come here, let Fourth Grandpa have a good look at you,” Fourth Grandfather said cheerfully.

    Li Chen obediently stepped forward and then sat down.

    “Ah, you’ve gotten even more handsome.

    Did you charm any pretty girls?” Fourth Grandfather stroked his goatee, “But don’t forget about Wan’er.

    Last time I saw that little girl, she was looking quite fetching.”

    Li Chen’s face was covered in black lines, Fourth Grandfather was always so unserious.

    Just then, a chopstick flew towards him.

    Li Chen quickly dodged to the side, and his right hand shot out, catching the chopstick securely.

    “Your martial arts haven’t regressed.” Second Grandfather also smiled slightly, “Good that you haven’t tarnished my reputation.”

    Li Chen put down the chopstick, puzzled, and asked, “Where’s Great Grandfather?”

    “He’s still in closed-door cultivation,” Third Grandpa said, “He’ll be out in a few days.”

    Li Chen nodded.

    Great Grandfather was the most mysterious of all the grandpas.

    Even when Li Chen was a child, it was hard to see him, and he was always entering seclusion, for reasons unknown.

    “Then how did you guys guess I was coming back?” Li Chen was still puzzled.

    Fourth Grandfather thumped Li Chen on the head, “Have you forgotten what your Fourth Grandfather does?”

    Li Chen grinned, “Of course, I remember.

    You divine life and death, calculate human fate and the heavens, peer into the mysterious, and reveal one’s life pattern.

    But Grandpa, now I kind of feel like you’re one of those swindlers from the streets.”

    Without a doubt, another thump followed.

    “Your Fourth Grandfather is nothing like those roving healers, you little rascal, are you trying to drive me mad?”

    “Grandpa, don’t be angry,” Li Chen chuckled, “I’m just teasing you for fun, right?”

    Second Grandfather smiled slightly, “Alright, let’s not talk about that right now, let’s try some of Third Grandpa’s cooking.”

    Li Chen’s eyes lit up, and without another word, he started devouring the food voraciously.

    Li Chen was eating when he said, “Fourth Grandfather, I’ve been feeling a strong pounding in my head recently, like something bad is going to happen.

    Can you help me do a reading?”

    Fourth Grandfather stroked his goatee, “Didn’t you just call me a roving healer a moment ago?”

    “How could you possibly be a roving healer, Fourth Grandfather?” Li Chen said indignantly.

    “No roving healer can compare to you.

    You’re a descendant of Guiguzi.

    Whoever dares to call you a roving healer, I’ll teach them a lesson for you!”

    Seeing Li Chen’s expression, Fourth Grandfather shook his head helplessly, “You rascal.”

    “Give me your hand.”

    As Fourth Grandfather spoke, Li Chen continued to pick up food, and then extended his left hand.

    Fourth Grandfather touched Li Chen’s meridians, closed his eyes, and after a moment, his eyebrows twitched slightly with a flash of confusion in his heart.

    After a while, Fourth Grandfather stood up with a somewhat solemn expression and fetched a wooden box.

    He opened the box, revealing various patterns inside.

    These were the I Ching and Eight Trigrams, the Bagua Computation, which could measure one’s destiny and foresee calamities.

    He arranged the patterns on the table, then Fourth Grandfather closed his eyes.

    Not long after, a hexagram appeared.

    “Xun Hexagram!”

    Fourth Grandfather’s expression grew serious.

    “What does that mean?” Li Chen hurriedly asked.

    Fourth Grandfather did not speak and continued stroking his beard.

    At this point, Second Grandfather spoke, “Cheen, go and rest.”

    “Oh.” Seeing how serious the grandfathers were, Li Chen couldn’t help feeling worried.

    Once Li Chen had left, Fourth Grandfather began to speak, “This hexagram bodes ill, its primary hexagram says, ‘Following the wind, Xun.

    A gentleman must expand his command and carry out his tasks.’ But the changing line is, ‘Upper Nine.

    Xun lays beneath the bed, losing the wealth axe, persistence is ominous.’ The interpretation says: Xun beneath the bed signifies utmost exhaustion; losing the wealth axe means misfortune is assured.”

    “Cheen has run into trouble.

    Looking at this hexagram, it seems like someone has set their eyes on him, a great disaster.” Fourth Grandfather exhaled slowly, “If we’re not careful, Cheen’s life might be at stake.”

    “Is it that serious?” Second Grandfather frowned, and Third Grandfather also furrowed his brow.

    “Can his fate be changed?” Third Grandfather asked.

    Fourth Grandfather nodded, “This is just a changing line, although it signifies that his fate will be so for a while, it’s not unchangeable.

    However, the hexagram is shrouded in mystery; I am not yet sure how to alter his fate.”

    “Old Fourth, think of another way.” Second Grandfather said.

    Fourth Grandfather rubbed his forehead, “It’s difficult.

    We can only help him get prepared.”

    Third Grandfather sighed, “It seems like Cheen has made quite a few enemies out there.

    I observed his energy just now and it’s clear he has injuries.”

    “Should we ask the Great Grandfather to end his closed-door cultivation?” Second Grandfather asked with a frown.

    “There’s no need for that,” Fourth Grandfather replied.

    “Although the hexagram is enshrouded in mist, it hasn’t completely cut off his chance for survival.

    We should be sufficient.”

    Third Grandfather said, “It looks like I’ll have to take out that pill I’ve treasured for so long.”

    “After storing it for three or four decades, I never thought it would be devoured by this rascal.”

    ...

    The next day.

    Li Chen opened his eyes, walked out of his room, and was bathed in the bright sunshine.

    “Cheen, come here.”

    All three grandfathers were outside.

    Li Chen was startled and quickly went over.

    “Your hexagram yesterday was an omen of bad fortune.

    Be cautious in the near future, and be wary of everyone.

    Remember this well,” Fourth Grandfather said.

    A chill went through Li Chen’s heart.

    He naturally believed in Fourth Grandfather’s art of divination.

    Since Fourth Grandfather had said so, he certainly had to be extra cautious.

    “Come, Cheen.” Third Grandfather opened a medical chest, and at once, the delicate silver needles were revealed.

    “What for?” Li Chen was puzzled.

    “To extend your life,” Third Grandfather replied glaring with his goatee bristling, “If I couldn’t see the injury on you, all my years of medical practice would have been for naught.”

    Li Chen chuckled and quickly took off his upper clothing.

    Third Grandfather’s needlework was very gentle; Li Chen didn’t feel a thing as the needles went in.

    “Your injury is quite strange,” Third Grandfather said wonderingly.

    “I can’t think of a method to eliminate it at the moment; I can only use the Five Elements Acupuncture Needles to suppress it.”

    Li Chen didn’t speak; he felt warm all over, especially the previously injured areas, which felt extremely comfortable.

    After a long while, Third Grandfather withdrew the needles, “Besides the injury, there’s another strange force in your body.

    This substance seems to be accumulating over time, and it’s not good for you.”

    You could see that?

    Li Chen knew that must be the Z substance.

    The Z substance was naturally domineering, but to suppress his injury, he had no other choice.

    “Take this.”

    Third Grandfather handed him a small box with a stern face, “Remember, open it and consume its contents at the most critical moment.”

    Li Chen nodded.

    Second Grandfather then said, “Cheen, make sure you learn everything I gave you and practice diligently.

    Don’t neglect your cultivation technique.”

    “Grandfather, I will,” Li Chen replied solemnly, nodding.