Corpse Recovery Diver-Chapter 1294 - 235:

The rain dampened the ground, stirring up a hint of mud's earthy scent, which wasn't unpleasant but rather charming.

Deng Chen held a cup of tea, sipping it while humming a small tune in rhythm with the phonograph.

Since becoming a disciple under the Dragon King Sect, he no longer lived a life of hiding and running; his life quality had significantly improved.

The telephone rang, and Deng Chen answered it.

"Hello, this is..."

"It's me."

Deng Chen was so startled that he almost spilled his tea. He immediately stood up and respectfully said:

"At your command."

If it was Tan Wenbin contacting him, he wouldn't exaggerate, but the person speaking on the other end, well, it was that one!

"You have one week to tidy up; bring those three to meet me in Nantong in a week."

"I can arrive tomorrow; no, I can arrive tonight!"

"In a week."

Tan Wenbin needed some more time to awaken, so there was no point in Deng Chen arriving early.

"Alright, respecting your command."

Li Zhiyuan hung up the phone. As he was about to settle the phone bill and buy some snacks, he heard someone calling him from behind.

"Brother Yuanzi!"

"Brother Yuanzi, you're back!"

Shitou and Hu Zi dashed over.

Li Zhiyuan handed them the chosen snacks, and with it, asked Aunt Zhang to pack a can of malted milk and two packets of tangerine crystal drink mix, all to be prepared as drinks.

"These are for you, and these, please take to Sister Yingzi for me."

"Okay!"

"We will complete the task!"

Yingzi was at a crucial stage of preparing for the college entrance examination, but as for Panzi and Leizi... they had long given up on the exam and were just waiting to get their high school diplomas to find work.

Shitou and Hu Zi had good character and wouldn't hold back anything. The disputes and grudges between their parents didn't affect the harmony of the next generation.

Aunt Zhang chuckled, "Little Yuan Hou, earning money at such a young age, is truly remarkable. When it's time to visit the tombs, make sure to give a few more bows to the ancestors."

Li Zhiyuan said, "Yes, I will."

Aunt Zhang, proficient in small talk, added, "Remember to bow for your mother as well."

Li Zhiyuan agreed, "Alright."

As he headed home, looking across the wheat field, he saw a motorcycle parked in Grandpa's courtyard.

Li Zhiyuan had ridden on this motorcycle before, and it still had a police siren attached, a relic from when Tan Yunlong worked at the township police station.

Since his transfer to Jinling, the motorcycle had stayed at home, indicating Tan Yunlong was back for a visit.

Li Zhiyuan continued walking home. After turning from the village road onto the path leading to Grandpa's house, he spotted two figures by the riverside.

A girl in a green dress crouched on the ground, gently stroking an injured bird. It was Cui Cui.

Beside her stood a young lady dressed in a white shirt and horse skirt, holding a delicate oil-paper umbrella; it was Alii.

Alii sensed his presence, turned around, and smiled at Li Zhiyuan.

Li Zhiyuan smiled back and walked over.

It must have been Cui Cui's earnest plea; only then did Alii accompany her here to rescue the bird.

Though Li Zhiyuan could tell that Alii had little compassion for injured animals...

Still, for Alii to leave the house and come here, engaging in pretend-play like a normal girl, was no easy feat when he wasn't around.

While checking the bird's injuries, Cui Cui felt raindrops overhead. She curiously looked up, turned around, and saw Li Zhiyuan approaching.

"Brother Yuan Hou!" Cui Cui called out, then looked at Alii, deliberately elongating her words, "Oh~"

Unlike the village, school was free from rampant gossip, and given Cui Cui's skip in grade, the older kids weren't interested in dabbling in trivialities. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Thus, Cui Cui gradually became more open-minded, influenced by her older classmates. She encountered and heard many mature things, which swayed her a bit as well.

Alii handed the oil-paper umbrella to Cui Cui, who took it and watched as Sister Alii voluntarily walked closer to Brother Yuan Hou, standing with him in the rain.

Cui Cui used the oil-paper umbrella to shield the bird from the rain, suddenly feeling the injured bird was not as sympathetic as before.

"Let me take a look."

Li Zhiyuan felt he was playing doctor all day.

He bent down, picked up the bird, and examined it in his palm, remarking, "It's not a big problem; it should be fine once placed back in its nest to rest."

Cui Cui pointed to the nest above, "But, it's so high."

"It's manageable."

Li Zhiyuan gently held the bird with his left hand and swiftly climbed the tree with one hand, easily reaching the nest and placing the fallen bird back inside.

Climbing down was simple; he relaxed his body, using his shoes to slow down by friction, landing steadily.

"Wow, Brother Yuan Hou is amazing!"

It's hard to imagine that not long ago, the young man who locked eyes with Ksitigarbha beneath the sea was now being praised for his tree-climbing skills in the village.

Honestly, there were times when Li Zhiyuan felt that navigating the Jiang and returning home were like living two completely different lives simultaneously.

He was akin to a kite, eagerly awaiting the moment the hands that released him into the sky would reel him back, no matter how high or far he flew.

"Let's go home."

...

Compared to the tranquil life at one end of the phone, the scene inside the darkroom at the other end was completely different.

In the dimly lit developing room, Deng Chen slapped the back of his own head, and two eyeballs instantly fell out, dropping into the chemical bath where they conjured the phantom of a Double-headed Python.

The other three smaller spirit beasts eagerly swam closer, excited to find out what vital message compelled the Python to take such a formal shape to relay it.

Once the Python had conveyed the recent phone message, all four spirit beast phantoms fell into a frenzy, as though they were hosting a pool party in the chemical bath.

The four minds, thrilled, continuously echoed their cheers:

"Our opportunity has arrived, our opportunity has arrived!"

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Don't worry, tomorrow I'll make up for today's word count.