Under One Person: Sincerity Moves the Gods

Chapter 39 The Subtle Aspects of Human Nature

The next day, the group set off from the town.

This time, nothing went wrong, and the journey went smoothly for about half a month.

Zuo Ruotong walked in front, followed by Li Cunzhen and Li Muxuan, with Azhen at the back, the Li brothers taking turns supporting her.

She changed into a clean gray jacket, the wound on her forehead was bandaged, and her feet, which were covered in sores, were also bandaged.

Although he still walks with a limp, he is much better than he was a few days ago.

Occasionally, Li Muxuan would urge her to hurry up, and she would grit her teeth and quicken her pace.

That evening, the group arrived at the small town where the Li family lived.

The house is still the same elegant and spacious mansion, but the ivy on the courtyard wall is thicker than last year, and the paint on the lintel is a bit old.

The Li brothers stood in front of the door and paused simultaneously.

I feel apprehensive as I get closer to home.

"Let's go."

In the end, Zuo Ruotong was the first to step over the threshold.

The gatekeeper recognized Zuo Ruotong, and naturally, he also recognized the two young masters. Without a word, he quickly opened the gate.

Li Cunzhen didn't rush inside. He turned to Ah Zhen and said, "You just wait here. Someone will take care of you in a bit."

Ah Zhen nodded and stood beside the gatehouse, not daring to move.

Li Muxuan then waved to the gatekeeper: "Go, get her some food, and find her an empty room to stay in."

The gatekeeper responded and led Ah Zhen to the backyard.

The Li brothers then stepped over the threshold, crossed the front yard, and went into the inner room.

The layout of the courtyard seemed unchanged, which made the Li brothers feel much more relaxed.

However, as soon as I stepped onto the veranda, I heard a muffled and violent cough coming from inside the house.

The Li brothers felt a pang of anxiety and quickly went into the inner room to look inside.

The door to the inner room was open, and two people were sitting inside.

One of them was Boss Li, who was lying on the bed. Despite the nice weather, he was covered with three layers of thick quilts. His face was sallow and his eye sockets were deeply sunken. He was completely different from the energetic old man he was eight years ago.

The other person sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Boss Li's hand, was a young man in his early twenties, wearing a black suit, and whose features resembled Li Cunzhen's.

It was my second brother, Li Cunzhi.

Li Cunzhen walked in, not even having time to greet his brother, and hurriedly asked, "Father?! What happened to you? You were perfectly fine when I came back before the New Year."

Boss Li opened his eyes, recognized Li Cunzhen and Li Muxuan, and a slow smile spread across his face:

"Cunzhen? Muxuan? You're back, good, good."

He reached his hand out from under the quilt and tremblingly patted the back of Li Cunzhen's hand.

Li Muxuan also came over, his throat moved, but he didn't say anything.

At this moment, Zuo Ruotong also walked outside the door.

Li Cunzhen gave Boss Li a deep look, then stood up and introduced:

"Master, this is my second brother, Li Cunzhi."

"Second brother, this is my master."

Li Cunzhi bowed respectfully: "Left Gate Master."

Zuo Ruotong shook her head slightly: "Don't worry about me, Cunzhen, Muxuan, chat with Boss Li more."

As they were talking, another young man walked in from outside the door. He was half a head taller than Li Cunzhi and was wearing a plain-colored mandarin jacket.

As soon as he entered, he cupped his hands in greeting to Zuo Ruotong: "Master Zuo, I am so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Li Cunzhen then introduced, "Master, this is my elder brother, Li Cunyi."

Li Cunyi nodded, gestured with his hand in front of his chest, and smiled: "You two have grown taller in the past six months."

The four brothers stood together, exchanged a few polite words, and then Li Cunyi arranged for tea to be served.

Li Cunzhi helped Boss Li sit up straighter and placed a cushion behind his back.

Zuo Ruotong sat down at the head of the table, while Boss Li leaned against the armchair next to him. The two were close enough to talk easily.

"Mr. Li, what...what did the doctor say?"

Zuo Ruotong lowered her voice.

Boss Li's voice was barely audible: "It's no use, just drag it out one day at a time."

After saying that, he tried to sit up a little straighter: "Let's not talk about that, Master Zuo. I didn't expect you to come. I've been wanting to ask you how my two lads are doing on the mountain?"

Zuo Ruotong replied:

"Cunzhen is exceptionally talented and has a calm and steady temperament; he is my most prized disciple. Muxuan is also quite good; he has tempered his temper considerably over the years and has become more focused on cultivation."

Boss Li chuckled: "Okay, okay, then I'm relieved."

............

On the other side, outside the door.

The four Li brothers stood under the eaves.

Li Cunyi patted Li Cunzhen's shoulder forcefully:

"Third brother, you didn't want to say before, but I asked around and heard that you've done quite well in your cultivation on the mountain and are the most talented one in the sect."

"At first I didn't believe it, I suspected I'd been scammed. I thought, what kind of destiny could that idiot have? But now, looking at you, you really do have the air of an immortal!"

Li Cunzhen smiled:

"Brother, you flatter me. You've managed the family business all these years; thank you for your hard work."

Li Cunyi's smile widened, and he waved his hand:

"Don't mention the hardship, it's what you should do. Your cultivation on the mountain is bringing honor to the Li family."

Li Cunzhi gently punched Li Muxuan on the shoulder:

"Fourth brother, I heard you've made something of yourself and stopped causing trouble?"

Li Muxuan chuckled: "What are you talking about? I've never caused any trouble, okay?"

The four brothers chatted and laughed, creating a scene of brotherly affection and respect that anyone would see.

As for those subtle emotions, Li Cunzhen didn't care, nor did he need to.

Of course, her two older brothers genuinely loved her and Li Muxuan.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t have other emotions.

Two years ago, before they announced they were giving up their inheritance, the eldest brother always looked at them with a somewhat evasive gaze.

If Li Cunzhen and Li Muxuan really wanted it, he wouldn't forcibly seize the family property.

But he kept thinking, since his two younger brothers had already gone up the mountain to cultivate Taoism, would they voluntarily give up?

He was worried that his two younger brothers would find out about this thought.

Besides that, my second brother Li Cunzhi's eyes looked particularly strange today.

Li Cunzhen glanced at it and didn't look at it again, but he remembered it in his mind and finally figured it out after thinking for a long time.

It was jealousy.

Li Cunzhen didn't know where this jealousy came from at first, but after thinking about it carefully, she understood.

I heard during the Chinese New Year this year that my second brother, Li Cunzhi, had also given up inheriting the family property and wanted to study abroad.

If everything went smoothly, judging by the timeline, he should have left a month ago.

But now, he spends his days in this old house brewing medicine, serving tea, and taking care of his father.

From Li Cunzhi's perspective, it was the same as giving up family property to pursue dreams.

Since Li Cunzhen and Li Muxuan had already arrived at the mountain early, it was only natural that we shouldn't disturb them.

But since he hasn't left yet, he should naturally stay home to take care of his father.

Li Cunzhi had no complaints about this. Even his boss and older brother had advised him to go to school first, but he insisted on doing it himself.

He chose this path himself; his father was seriously ill, and he couldn't just leave.

But now Li Cunzhen and Li Muxuan are standing in front of him.

He then realized that he couldn't help but feel a sense of comparison.

This idea came suddenly, and even he himself had never thought of it before.

So much so that there was no time to dodge, and they had no choice but to hand it over to Li Cunzhen to see.

Li Cunzhen noticed these subtle emotions and suddenly understood why Zuo Ruotong had asked Azhen to thank him.

He remained expressionless, patted his eldest brother on the back, and smiled at his second brother.

"Big brother, second brother, thank you for your hard work over the years."