Chapter 223
Chapter 223
This was the first time in Chen Daji’s life that anyone had praised him, and he could not help feeling embarrassed.
Scratching his head, he grinned awkwardly.
“Grandma, Big Brother, I’m not actually as good as you make me sound.
“I was thinking it probably wouldn’t be too dangerous if we rode Eighth Master Chang there. He can run really fast…”
Eighth Master Chang, who was slurping instant noodles, started in alarm.
He wanted to curse Chen Daji, but worried that Hua Jiunan would think him a coward fleeing before battle.
Thus, he swallowed his words, leaving himself almost unbearably stifled.
He could only brood inwardly:
When he took the little bastard back to school the day after tomorrow, he would have to run with every ounce of strength he had.
Even if he collapsed from exhaustion, he would freeze this “menace” to death!
At this rate, if the little bastard lived a few more years, he would get Eighth Master Chang killed sooner or later…
Chen Daji had no idea that Eighth Master Chang had come to “hate” him all over again. He continued rambling to himself.
“Grandma, you have no idea. When Eighth Master runs, the wind he kicks up roars like crazy!
“It blows straight through your crotch in no time…”
Before Chen Daji could finish, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck.
Protected by the Daoist secret art known as the Nine Nether Astral Guard, Chen Daji could now withstand an astonishing amount of punishment.
Fighting through the intense dizziness, he laboriously turned his head and stared at Hua Jiunan in bewilderment.
“Big Brother, everything was fine. Why’d you suddenly smack me in the back of the neck…?”
(This refers to the side and back of the neck.)
(People in northeastern China care deeply about face. There is a saying: “When fighting, don’t strike the face.” If you slap someone in the face, he may well fight you to the death.)
(Thus, even when an elder disciplines a junior, the elder generally avoids the face because doing so is insulting. Instead, he may smack the back of the neck, where any mark can be concealed by a collar.)
Seeing that Chen Daji had not lost consciousness completely, Hua Jiunan was surprised too.
He could only deliver another chopping blow to the back of Chen Daji’s neck.
Only then did Chen Daji “stubbornly” pass out on the heated brick bed.
Deaf Granny was not remotely surprised by Hua Jiunan’s actions. Instead, she asked with a genial smile,
“Jiu, you don’t want Daji to follow you into danger, do you?”
Hua Jiunan gently nodded as he tucked a quilt around Chen Daji.
“Grandma, this is my own affair. I don’t want to drag my brother into it.
“Daji is only an ordinary person. He should live a good life.”
With that, Hua Jiunan stood and gently embraced Deaf Granny.
“Grandma, please help me perform Guoyin now.
“If I… if I truly don’t return, please don’t grieve. You must take good care of yourself!”
Tears filled Deaf Granny’s eyes. Her gaze at Hua Jiunan overflowed with reluctance to part.
“Good child. What a good child!
“If Old Li knows of this in the Yellow Springs, he’ll be comforted to see the man you’ve become!
“Since my Eldest Grandson insists, Grandma will grant your wish!”
The old woman took a porcelain bottle from a cabinet, opened it, and handed it to Hua Jiunan.
“This contains Soul-Guiding Incense. One breath will make your soul leave your body.”
Hua Jiunan nodded. After gazing at Deaf Granny with profound reluctance, he inhaled deeply from the bottle.
Intense dizziness struck him at once. Just like Chen Daji, he fell onto the heated brick bed with a thud.
Yet his soul did not emerge from his body.
Deaf Granny gently stroked Hua Jiunan’s cheek and said in a trembling voice,
“Good child, how could Grandma bear to let you risk your life alone?
“This old woman could never endure the pain of outliving another child.
“You and Daji rest well. Even if Grandma’s soul is destroyed, I will bring your mother back!”
As soon as Deaf Granny finished, a Ghost Sedan appeared inside the room out of thin air.
Hemp-clad Grandmother walked slowly out with her long-stemmed pipe between her lips.
She first tapped Hua Jiunan and Chen Daji lightly on the head, then said with a cheerful smile,
“Little sister, I’ll go to the Underworld Court with you.”
Deaf Granny was about to speak when Hemp-clad Grandmother stopped her.
“Don’t say anything. Little sister, I can guess what you want to say.
“Today I’ll put it plainly: you’re the boy’s paternal grandmother, and I’m his maternal grandmother. We’re equally close to him!
“If you can risk your life for Xiao Jiu, then this old woman won’t fall short!”
With that, Hemp-clad Grandmother calmly met Deaf Granny’s gaze.
The two elders instantly understood each other’s resolve and smiled together.
“Let’s prepare thoroughly first. We can’t throw away two old lives for nothing.
“Even if we must trade one life for another, we’ll bring back Xiao Jiu’s mother and the Valiant Great General!”