novel bin Chapter 53 Another Beast Roar
Chapter 53 Another Beast Roar
When the news of Chen Luo breaking through to the fifth level of strength spread, the criticisms directed at him within the Licheng Martial Arts Academy immediately subsided.
As the situation fluctuated, Huang Mingyuan seemed to be influenced by Gu Youcai. Recently, he often wore a warm smile and would frequently stroll around in front of his disciples, his appearance becoming much more approachable.
As for Chen Luo, he continued to cultivate even after breaking through to the fifth level of strength. Until one snowy day, he was disturbed by some noise. When he looked outside, he found that the servants were putting up New Year's red decorations on his courtyard gate.
He then realized with a start that it was already New Year's Eve.
Once outside the courtyard gates, the other disciples had probably all gone home. The west courtyard was quiet, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, their glow casting a hazy, warm light amidst the swirling snow.
He tightened his coat and walked through the snow to the north wing, where he saw Gu Youcai sweeping snow under the eaves.
"Senior Brother Gu, Happy New Year!" Chen Luo greeted him with a smile. "Why didn't you leave the snow-sweeping to the servants?"
"It's just cleaning for the New Year," Gu Youcai chuckled. "Happy New Year, Junior Brother! Are you getting ready to go home for the holidays?"
"Yes." Chen Luo nodded. "What about Senior Brother Gu? Isn't he going back to Pingxiang today?"
Gu Youcai smiled faintly, "It's too far, it's inconvenient to go back, and I'm all alone, it would be lonely if I went back. It's better to stay at the martial arts academy and keep the headmaster company for the New Year."
Chen Luo nodded knowingly. He knew that Gu Youcai had a close relationship with Principal Huang, and that Principal Huang had no children or servants or concubines. Only Gu Youcai served him year-round.
He then went into the north wing, greeted Master Huang with a Happy New Year, and left Licheng Martial Arts School.
He was an orphan in his previous life and usually spent the New Year alone. He didn't like crowds and just wanted to go home and have a simple celebration.
Cases like his are not uncommon in Qingshan County. Because Qingshan County is constantly plagued by monster tides, there are always some deaths and injuries. It is not uncommon for children to lose their fathers or mothers. For example, Lu Qun only has a father, Song Ruokui lost her father at a young age and was raised by her mother, and Gu Youcai is just like him, an orphan without fathers or mothers.
After leaving the martial arts academy, Chen Luo thought he would first go to the market to buy some meat, such as a stew of ribs, to have a good meal and at the same time pay tribute to his parents from his previous life.
Before setting off, he first visited Zhou Xiaoliang and Lu Qun, then went to Zhengyang Martial Arts School to pay his respects to Instructor Li and his daughter, before finally arriving at the county market.
The market on New Year's Eve was bustling with people. He finally managed to buy some pork ribs. To avoid the crowds, he turned into a small alley that ran through the market. But just after turning a corner, he saw a familiar figure coming towards him. It was Song Ruokui.
Chen Luo was surprised to see her here, and Song Ruokui was also taken aback, her expression momentarily blank.
The two met unexpectedly, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment. After a brief pause, Chen Luo was the first to break into a smile: "Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Song Ruokui said softly.
Another silence fell. In the silence, thinking of the strange things that had happened to her, and having not seen her for many days, Chen Luo couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.
She was no longer wearing the robes of the Jingyi Martial Arts Academy, but only a simple short brown coat, which was a coarse cloth jacket. However, she still looked beautiful. Her hair was tied up in a high bun, and a few snowflakes fell on her fair cheeks, turning into frost when she breathed on them.
She was clutching a piece of coarse cloth in her hand, inside which was wrapped a meat rib.
They looked like they were there to buy meat for the New Year; there was nothing unusual about them.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time without saying anything, Song Ruokui stood there, looking at him calmly.
Chen Luo continued, "It's been a long time since I've seen Aunt Lin. How about I go pay her a visit later?"
As he spoke, he subtly activated his vertical pupils, naturally meeting Song Ruokui's gaze.
However, observing the small details can only reveal the key points of martial arts; looking at it like this, one cannot discern anything at all.
Only with his ability to perceive movement as stillness could he catch a glimpse of a wisp of hair on her forehead slowly fluttering in the wind. Chen Luo had no choice but to withdraw his vertical pupils.
Song Ruokui shook her head. "No need."
Chen Luo took it as a polite remark, "It's nothing, just saying hello to Aunt Lin."
Aunt Lin is Song Ruokui's mother. The two families are close. When the original owner was a child, she often took care of her. They hadn't seen each other for a long time, but now that they had been mentioned again, as a junior, it was only natural to visit her.
Song Ruokui looked at him quietly for a moment, "Do you know what it means when a man visits a woman's parents on New Year's Eve to wish them a happy new year?"
"..." Chen Luo was speechless for a moment. He really hadn't expected this. It was indeed a bit ambiguous. He immediately gave an awkward laugh and said, "Hehe, then I'll come back after the New Year."
"Okay." Song Ruokui nodded, but this time she didn't wait for him to ask anything more before brushing past him.
Looking back at the figure gradually disappearing into the crowd, Chen Luo frowned slightly. Perhaps it was because of the cold weather, but she seemed even more indifferent than when they last met.
He shook his head; he didn't want to think about anything unnecessary on New Year's Eve.
By the time I got home, it was already dark.
He hadn't been back to this house for several months. The roof was covered in snow. Since there wasn't much of value in the house, he hadn't locked it before leaving. He just pushed the door open and was hit by a cloud of dust.
After a quick clean-up, Chen Luosheng boiled water, stewed the ribs, and then placed them in a bowl in front of the memorial tablets of his parents from his previous life. He then poured a cup of wine and three sticks of incense.
He lit the incense and bowed three times.
Then, thinking of the body he inherited, he suddenly wondered if he should also erect a monument for his predecessor.
For some reason, as soon as the thought popped into his head, he felt an inexplicable sense of rejection, and even his mind trembled a few times.
Chen Luo was immediately surprised. After thinking for a while, he couldn't figure out why. He could only silently remember the feeling of palpitation he had just experienced and then gave up the idea of worshipping his predecessor.
He then took the pork ribs back to the kitchen, ate a simple meal, and rested before heading back to Licheng Martial Arts Academy early the next morning.
After lying down to sleep, he suddenly opened his eyes in the middle of the night, a sudden, inexplicable palpitation gripping him and almost instantly waking him from his drowsy state.
"What's wrong?"
He was still in shock, not knowing what was happening to him, when he heard a loud crash. Chen Luo turned his head sharply and looked in the direction of the sound. Several rats had suddenly scurried out from some corner, ignoring the cold outside, and rushed out through the crack in the door.
At the same time, he noticed the kettle on the low table in front of the bed, where the water surface inexplicably rippled a few times.
Something was wrong. Chen Luo instantly became alert, immediately activated his vertical pupils, rolled out of bed, and quickly dressed. However, as soon as his feet touched the ground, a deep, muffled roar came from the west, echoing throughout the county!
Chen Luo's heart tightened suddenly.
It was that beastly roar again!
This time, in Xishan!