Chapter 14

In recent days, with no guests coming, Li Nianfan's life had once again become as calm as water.

That day, after having a hearty meal, he took his fishing rod and went to the backyard.

The tortoise was lying on a large rock by the pond, basking in the sun with its eyes half-closed, looking very content.

Seeing the tortoise like this, it was clear there were no monsters in the pond. Then where did the fish I raised go?

Li Nianfan, not believing in evil, cast his line again and sat next to the tortoise to continue fishing.

The tortoise was still young, about half the size of Li Nianfan. It opened its eyes slightly to look at him, then lazily closed them again.

Li Nianfan smiled slightly and swung his arm.

Plop.

The fishing hook drew a perfect arc in the air and landed precisely in the center of the pond.

Ripples spread across the surface of the pond as the hook slowly sank.

The pond water was crystal clear, like glass, but if you looked into it, you would find not a single fish, even the fish fry Li Nianfan had just put in had vanished without a trace.

A huge shadow slowly opened its eyes, glanced at the fishing hook, and then swam into the depths of the pond, leaving a trail of golden marks behind.

Half an hour later.

Li Nianfan slightly lifted the fishing rod, and the hook came out of the water.

He looked at the empty fishing rod, expressionless, clearly prepared to return empty-handed.

"Strange, strange."

Li Nianfan shook his head and muttered to himself, looking at the tortoise, "Old Tortoise, if you could speak, tell me what's going on with this pond?"

The tortoise had already fallen asleep, motionless.

Li Nianfan got up helplessly, patted the dust off his buttocks, and left.

He made up his mind that he would not raise fish fry in the pond anymore. If he wanted to eat fish, he would just buy it from Luoxian City.

Li Nianfan put the fishing rod back in its place, closed the door, and said, "Dahēi, let's go to Luoxian City."

Luoxian City was as bustling as ever.

Aunt Zhang was walking around the city gate with Nuan Nuan. Seeing Li Nianfan, she quickly shouted, "Nuan Nuan, Master Li is here. Quickly thank Master Li for saving your life."

A little girl with braids turned her head blankly, looking at Li Nianfan with hollow eyes, not speaking, as if she had lost her soul.

Li Nianfan was slightly stunned, "Aunt Zhang, what's wrong with Nuan Nuan?"

"Ah, after she was taken by the monster last time, she became like this. She must have been scared out of her wits by the monster," Aunt Zhang's eyes welled up, and she sighed.

Li Nianfan's brows furrowed, and he felt a pang of pain thinking about Nuan Nuan's previous liveliness.

"Aunt Zhang, is there any way to restore her?" Li Nianfan asked.

"I've asked a few itinerant Taoists, and they all said that talking to Nuan Nuan more might help bring her soul back," Aunt Zhang hesitated for a moment and then pleaded, "Master Li, you are a learned man. Could you please take some time to talk to Nuan Nuan? Maybe your words will help."

"I will," Li Nianfan nodded solemnly, taking it to heart.

Aunt Zhang held a basket of eggs, "Master Li, you left in a hurry last time, and I didn't have the chance to thank you. You must take these eggs."

Li Nianfan shook his head with a bitter smile, "Aunt Zhang, I can't accept these. I didn't really help last time."

"Master Li, don't be modest. Even the three immortals praised you. I think they are immortals and wouldn't care for my eggs, but you can't refuse them," Aunt Zhang pushed the eggs into Li Nianfan's hands.

Li Nianfan had no choice but to accept them with a bitter smile.

After bidding farewell to Aunt Zhang and Nuan Nuan, Li Nianfan went to the fish vendor again.

"Boss, give me two big carps."

"Ah, Master Li is here," the vendor smiled warmly, "Not planning to buy fish fry anymore?"

Li Nianfan shook his head, "There's something wrong with my pond. The fish fry disappear as soon as I put them in."

"How's the tortoise?" the vendor asked, frowning.

Li Nianfan replied, "The tortoise is fine, it still basks in the sun every day."

"That's strange," the vendor was also puzzled.

The tortoise being fine meant there were no monsters, but how did the fish fry disappear?

Li Nianfan said casually, "I won't raise fish anymore. I'll just buy them from now on."

"Master Li, you won't go wrong buying fish from me. I get up early every morning to fish in Jingyue Lake. I guarantee every fish is fresh and delicious," the vendor laughed, "Even the princes and nobles of the Immortal Dynasty fight over my fish."

Li Nianfan was surprised, "Really?"

"Would I lie to you? Just yesterday, the second princess of the Immortal Dynasty was shopping and passed by my stall. She said she liked fish, and the prime minister's son and the national master's son almost fought in the street to get my fish for her!"

The vendor's face was full of pride, "They are all cultivators, but they still like my fish."

Li Nianfan was slightly stunned, knowing this was Luo Shiyu's doing. No wonder she hadn't come for a while; she had already started her plans.

He just didn't expect her to control the situation so quickly. The prime minister's son and the national master's son were a bit weak.

Li Nianfan smiled, bid farewell to the vendor, and walked back.

On the way, a door that was originally closed suddenly opened, and a row of maids rushed out.

Crying sounds came from the courtyard, and many people had tear-streaked faces.

Soon, the sound of a suona horn came from the other side of the road, and a group of people carrying a coffin arrived and stopped at the door of the house.

Everyone was in a hurry, carrying a woman out of the house and preparing to put her in the coffin.

"It looks like Mr. Chen's wife didn't make it."

"A mother and child, what a pity."

"Mr. and Mrs. Chen were both good people, what a shame."

The people around shook their heads and sighed, but they were already used to such occurrences.

In the world of cultivation, medical technology was not much different from the ancient times in Li Nianfan's previous life. Especially during childbirth, unless there was an immortal's help, it was very easy for something to go wrong.

Li Nianfan's heart also stirred. His gaze fell on the woman, who had her eyes tightly closed, seemingly without breath, but still had sweat on her forehead.

At a glance, he could tell that the woman was not dead but had fainted from exhaustion.

"Wait! She's not dead!"

Li Nianfan saw the coffin about to be closed and hurriedly stepped forward to stop it.

A middle-aged man with red eyes and a hoarse voice asked, "Master Li, what are you doing?"

A happy event had turned into a funeral. If it weren't for Li Nianfan's good reputation in Luoxian City, he would have already lost his temper.

"Your wife and son are not dead. I can save them!" Li Nianfan said.

"Master Li, are you joking?" the middle-aged man was stunned.

The midwives around also looked at Li Nianfan in disbelief.

"I'm sure I can save them!" Li Nianfan said urgently, "Quickly clear the crowd and have someone prepare gauze and an oil lamp. I need to save them! There's no time to waste!"

The situation was urgent, so he could only save them in the coffin.