Chapter 81

（Thank you to the book friend Yan Chou Zhi Linghun for the reward.）

Yan Liqun stared at Lu Li, his lips trembling uncontrollably, showing an indescribable excitement.

After a while, he reached out and rubbed his eyes fiercely, then said with a bitter smile, "How could you possibly be the old leader? He has been gone for many years. Haha, I think I will see him soon, and perhaps I can follow the old leader in battles across the land."

"Yan Daren, what you see with your own eyes may not necessarily be true, but it may not necessarily be false either."

Since it was already determined that Yan Liqun could only live for another half a year, Lu Li felt there was no need to hide his identity.

"Back then, you were only sixteen years old, and you insisted on joining the army. At that time, the Yan family only had you as a child, so your mother specially came to beg us not to take you in. We did refuse, but unexpectedly, you ran away from home and eventually caught up with us."

"Also, the injury on your leg, that was during an ambush. Due to underestimating the enemy's numbers, our Third Regiment was surrounded. You were injured while saving me."

"Also, the shrapnel in your head, I remember that most clearly. During the Three Rivers Campaign, we fought the enemy for three days and three nights. During the retreat, we were pursued by the enemy." Saying this, he chuckled lightly, "If I hadn't saved you, you would have been a hero long ago."

"Also, …"

As Lu Li recounted the events of the past one by one, Yan Liqun's eyes grew wider and wider, his face full of disbelief.

"Are you really the old leader?"

Lu Li fell silent, gazing at Yan Liqun, and said calmly, "Yes, and no. You can understand it as me being reborn with my memories, or you can think that I was destined not to die, so I lived again." After saying this, a smile appeared on his lips, as if he was very interested in Yan Liqun's reaction.

"Reborn? Live again?"

Yan Liqun repeated Lu Li's words in a low voice, suddenly thinking of himself, feeling a bit disheartened.

He didn't know which to believe. After all, he had killed many people back then. If there really were the Six Realms and the Underworld, wouldn't his sins be enormous? Enough to send him to the Eighteenth Level of Hell.

"Don't think too much. Battles are not about right or wrong, and they don't necessarily count as grave sins. On the contrary, if you can become a marquis or a prime minister, it would increase your virtue." Lu Li seemed to see through Yan Liqun's thoughts and continued, "With your achievements, as long as you didn't do anything regrettable after the founding of the country, a prosperous life in the next world is entirely possible."

After hearing Lu Li's words, Yan Liqun's eyes regained some of their luster. He looked up at Lu Li and asked eagerly, "Old—Old Leader, can I continue to follow you?"

"Continue to follow me?"

Lu Li was slightly taken aback and said strangely, "How can you continue to follow me?"

"Since the old leader can live again, why can't I? I have been following the old leader since I was sixteen, through mountains of knives and seas of fire, through gunfire and bullets, never frowning."

As he spoke, Yan Liqun gradually straightened his upper body. His originally listless face suddenly exuded a sense of iron and blood.

Lu Li didn't expect Yan Liqun to have such thoughts and was momentarily speechless.

"Old Leader, don't you trust me?"

Yan Liqun noticed that Lu Li was just spacing out and immediately called out in dissatisfaction.

Lu Li came to his senses and said with a bitter smile, "Old Yan, you're not young anymore, how can you still be so naive? If anyone could be like me, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

Yan Liqun opened his mouth, then sighed deeply.

Just because the old leader could have such an encounter doesn't mean he could have it too.

Seeing Yan Liqun's disappointed face, Lu Li stroked his chin in thought, then suddenly brightened and smiled, "If you really want to continue following me, it's not entirely impossible."

"Really?"

Yan Liqun exclaimed, struggling to get out of bed.

Lu Li quickly pressed his shoulder, "Don't rush. I'm not sure if it will work. And this is somewhat unfair to you, so you can think about it carefully."

"Old Leader, I am your soldier in this life, and I will be in the next life too."

Lu Li thought for a moment and decided it was better not to hide anything from him to avoid future regrets.

"For now, I can only think of two methods. One is to stay in the world of the living and not enter the cycle of rebirth. When I eventually embark on the path of cultivation, I will have a way to reshape your physical body. However, this will limit your potential. The other is to help you凝聚阴气,提高实力, then enter the underworld and strive for cultivation. However, this is very risky, and you might dissipate before you succeed."

After saying this, Lu Li's expression became serious, and he continued, "The first method has less risk but offers little help to me. The second method is very risky but has infinite possibilities."

Faced with two paths he had never considered, especially since each had its own merits, Yan Liqun was at a loss, his brows furrowed, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Subconsciously, he naturally hoped to follow Lu Li, but Lu Li had clearly stated that following him now might make him a burden in the future.

Yan Liqun was a proud man and naturally didn't want to be a burden. As for the other path, it was too unfamiliar, making him feel uncertain.

"Alright. You have half a year to think about it. When you've made up your mind, let me know. For now, let's focus on treating your illness."

Lu Li knew it was indeed difficult for him to make a decision right away, so he didn't expect an immediate answer.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that Yan Liqun had served him loyally for over half a century in the previous cycle and had now taken the initiative to ask, Lu Li wouldn't have given it much thought. Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural, and he couldn't care for everyone.

The treatment was quick. Given Yan Liqun's current condition, Lu Li used the Nine Needles to forcibly stimulate the remaining potential in his body, allowing him to walk smoothly.

Next, he used the Great Yuan Soup for conditioning, which should keep him stable for half a year.

After the treatment, Lu Li walked over, opened the door, and beckoned to Yan Zhishan and Xiao Yuchuan, who were anxiously waiting outside, "I can only do this much. He will be fine for half a year, but beyond that, it's up to fate."

Yan Zhishan sighed upon hearing this, then nodded at Lu Li, "Doctor Lu, thank you."

After expressing his gratitude, he entered the room and was stunned when he saw Yan Liqun.

Yan Liqun was leaning back on the wooden bed, looking spirited and radiant, showing no signs of a recent serious illness.

"Shanzi, Lu Li is the best doctor I have ever seen and my savior. From now on, he is the most important guest of the Yan family. His requests must be unconditionally met."

"Really?"

Yan Zhishan looked at his father with surprise and disbelief.

Yan Liqun was very dissatisfied with his son's hesitation, waved his hand, and coldly said, "I'm not dead yet! Go and call back Lao Er and Lao San, and have them meet Lu Li. Whoever displeases Lu Li will be kicked out of Yanjing."

---

(End of the page)