Dog's Name: Fox Spirit

The reason Li Xiangyi accepted Cao Hansheng's invitation was not because he trusted Cao Hansheng so much, but because he believed in his own abilities and his own judgment.

In terms of strength, even a hundred Cao Hanshengs tied together couldn't beat Li Xiangyi, but when it comes to judgment, he's really not good at all; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's blind.

Senior brother, the mastermind behind the scenes, brother, secretly poisoned him, business partner, stole his girlfriend. If Cao Hansheng knew what he was thinking, he would probably try to squeeze more money out of him.

However, Cao Hansheng understood that it would be difficult to extract anything more from him. Firstly, the timing was not right, and secondly, Li Xiangyi had not yet truly become Li Lianhua, and still had too much of a sense of justice in his heart.

As for the claim that Cao Hansheng was going to do something bad to Li Xiangyi, that's utter nonsense. He's just as bad as Li Xiangyi. If it weren't for the "life-saving grace" he had planned beforehand, he would be no different from a weed by the roadside.

One was inexplicably confident, the other cautious and self-aware. Under Cao Hansheng's guidance, the two set aside the matter of Cao Hansheng killing the Li couple and chatted about some anecdotes of the martial arts world. Before long, they arrived at the safe house on Jiucuo Mountain.

This safe house, though called a house, is actually just a cave of about ten square meters. However, it is very clean and tidy. It is small but complete. There is also a small platform at the entrance of the cave, which is where Cao Hansheng practices his sword.

Li Daniu's dog was lying nearby. After hearing the noise, the dog first ran to Cao Hansheng's feet and frolicked, then turned its head and barked at Li Xiangyi, showing a bit of arrogance.

"Your dog is quite good; it's very intelligent and knows who the unwelcome guest is."

Cao Hansheng bent down and patted the dog's head, then turned to look at Li Xiangyi, "It just smells fish and always wants to eat a bite of raw fish, but unfortunately it's too young to eat raw fish."

"Oh, why can't we eat it?"

"It's easy to get an upset stomach, Sect Leader Li. This place isn't that big, so please make yourself at home. I'll process the seafood we caught today, and then we can have a good drink later."

"Okay, you go ahead with your work, I'll just take a look around. By the way, does your dog have a name?"

"Yes, it's called a fox spirit. It will do all sorts of things to get you a bite to eat."

"As expected of Brother Cao's dog, its name is truly unique. With such a fox spirit by your side in these mountains, Brother Cao must be living a very comfortable life."

"I'll just treat it as a companion, but I actually quite like it. Sect Leader Li, after this matter is over, no matter what the outcome, I'll entrust the fox spirit to you."

Li Xiangyi didn't answer immediately, but pondered for a moment, "Alright, I can promise you. Fox spirits are so likable, I think I'm starting to like them a little too."

"That is its honor."

While chatting, Cao Hansheng and Li Xiangyi tidied up the food and brought out two large jars of cheap liquor they had bought in town. The two then sat down casually. After Cao Hansheng poured the liquor, he raised his glass and looked at Li Xiangyi.

"Master Li, this cup is a toast to you, as a token of my gratitude for your instruction."

"Brother Cao, let's not bring this up again. It's all in the past. Otherwise, wouldn't I, Li, have to kowtow to you a few times to thank you for saving my life?"

"That's true, I'll take it. Sect Leader Li, feel free to do as you please."

"Drinking shouldn't be done casually, bottoms up!"

When people drink too much, they inevitably get a little tipsy. Under Cao Hansheng's deliberate prompting, Li Xiangyi started talking about his last trip back to Sigumen. In the end, he hesitated for a moment.

"Brother Cao, I need to ask you for a favor."

"Sect Leader Li, what do you mean by that? What help do you need? Just give the order."

"After being enlightened by Master Wule of Pudu Temple that day, I decided to retire from the martial world and live out my remaining years in anonymity. If it weren't for the fact that my senior brother Shan Gudao's remains have not yet been found, I would have already gone to guard my master's tomb."

To be honest, Brother Cao, the main purpose of my visit to Yue Shan Village is to ask you to keep the secret that Li Xiangyi is still alive. Li Xiangyi has already perished in the East China Sea, and I am now just a wandering swordsman named Li Lianhua.

"Very well, I, Cao, will certainly keep the secret for Sect Leader Li. Li Lianhua, what a beautiful name. With a pure mind, lotus flowers bloom everywhere. I admire Sect Leader Li for being able to give up such a large family business as Si Gu Sect. I toast Sect Leader Li."

"There's no such thing as Sect Leader Li anymore. If Brother Cao doesn't mind, would you mind calling me Brother Li?"

"That's because Sect Leader Li is giving me the honor. Brother Li, please."

"Dry."

The two drank one cup after another until they were almost finished with the two jars of wine. Li Xiangyi seemed to be drunk and walked to the small platform outside the cave with his wine cup.

He looked at an iron sword casually hanging on a frame made from a tree stump about half a person's height, with a wooden board pierced to pieces hanging on the frame, and then touched the sword marks on it.

"Brother Cao, your swordsmanship is very good, but you only practice the 'thrust' technique. It's a bit too aggressive. The sword is the gentleman among weapons. If you practice like this, you might be going down the wrong path."

Cao Hansheng did not reply. Instead, he stood up, walked forward, took down the iron sword hanging there, took two or three steps forward, turned his back to the wooden board, and then suddenly pulled out the iron sword, turned around and stabbed it in the center of the wooden board, piercing it directly.

"Weapons are instruments of ill omen. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't killed Li Daniu's family. But after thinking it over, I still think they deserve to be killed."

If a bad person can be forgiven for doing bad things, then who in this world would want to be a good person? After all, everyone has times when they have no other choice.

As for his wife, if she were alive and determined to avenge Li Daniu, she would die by Cao's sword sooner or later. If she didn't even seek revenge, as his wife, she deserved to die even more.

Brother Li, I, Cao, have never felt I have done anything wrong. However, everything I have learned was taught to me by you, Brother Li. If you insist on taking back my skills and sending me to that 188th prison, I will have no objection.

Li Xiangyi, oh no, Li Lianhua, let out a long sigh and looked at Cao Hansheng holding a sword in his hand. "With a sharp blade in one's heart, the desire to kill arises naturally. I somewhat regret teaching Brother Cao martial arts. If it weren't for this, Brother Cao might not have done such a biased thing."

"Brother Li, why blame yourself? Life's encounters and destinies are all predetermined. This was all my own decision, so what does it have to do with you, Brother Li?"

Upon hearing this, Li Lianhua looked at the distant mountain stream, remained silent for a while, then sat back down at the table, raised her wine cup, and offered a perfunctory toast to Cao Hansheng.

"Brother Cao's wine is indeed excellent. Why don't you join me for a few more drinks?"

What good wine? It's just some cheap, muddy liquor in town that you can drink a cup for a hundred coins. If you can taste the quality of good wine, you're probably just drunk yourself.

Cao Hansheng sensed the lonely aura emanating from him. Perhaps he really wanted to get drunk, or perhaps he wanted to do something under the guise of being drunk. Cao Hansheng decided to play along.

"Brother Li, please."