Chapter 35: Cao Qing Is Dead

Knock, knock, knock... A burst of knocking came, and at the same time, a man’s voice sounded. “Is Scholar Li here?”

At this moment, Li Si was washing rice in the rear courtyard, so he called to Cao Meng, who was practicing writing in the hall, “Cao Meng, go open the door.”

After Cao Meng heard this, he wiped away the water stains on the table with his sleeve, then hurried to the door and opened it. He saw a middle-aged man in fitted martial clothes outside and could not help calling out, “Uncle Luo, you’ve come to find Teacher.”

The young man standing outside was also a hunter of Fengmen County. His name was Luo Ye, and he often had dealings with Cao Meng’s family, so Cao Meng naturally knew him.

When Luo Ye saw Cao Meng, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he did not say it. His gaze dodged somewhat as he looked at Cao Meng.

“Mm, is Scholar Li at home?” Afterward, Luo Ye ignored Cao Meng and looked inside the doorway.

“Oh, Teacher is here.” Cao Meng was somewhat stunned. He felt that Uncle Luo was a little strange today.

“Brother Luo, what did you come to find me for?” Li Si wiped his still-wet hands with a sweat towel and looked at Luo Ye somewhat doubtfully.

When Luo Ye saw Li Si, his lips moved slightly. Then he looked at Cao Meng at the side and hesitated. “It is not convenient to speak here. Can we talk alone?”

Seeing Luo Ye’s manner, Li Si’s heart gave a thump, and he immediately had some expectation of what was coming next.

So he smiled at Luo Ye and said, “Is it about that matter I mentioned to you yesterday? I happened to want to speak with you about it too.”

Luo Ye was stunned, then immediately nodded and replied, “Yes.”

Seeing Luo Ye react so quickly, Li Si breathed a sigh of relief in his heart and said to Cao Meng at the side, “I am still missing some spring onions and garlic for these dishes. Go buy some for me.”

Cao Meng’s gaze moved over the two of them. The doubt in his eyes gradually faded, and then he answered, “All right, Teacher.”

After saying this, he went out.

“Did something happen to Brother Cao?” Seeing Cao Meng walk far away, Li Si went straight to the point while leading Luo Ye toward the study.

Seeing Li Si be so direct, Luo Ye also said bluntly, “Cao Qing is dead!”

Hearing Luo Ye say this, Li Si’s figure halted. Although he had already expected this before, when he heard the news of Cao Qing’s death, he still felt that it was somewhat unreal.

Such a living person had died just like that.

“Then where is his corpse?” Li Si brought Luo Ye into the study, poured him a cup of tea, and the two sat down.

Luo Ye drank a mouthful of tea, and his turbulent emotions immediately calmed down a great deal. Hearing Li Si’s question at this moment, he said somewhat hesitantly, “The corpse is still on the mountain.”

“On the mountain?” Li Si frowned and said hesitantly, “Since it is on the mountain, why did you not bring it back?”

“We cannot bring it back.” Luo Ye sighed, then continued, “According to the hunter who brought back news of Cao Qing’s death, his corpse was hung by that demon tiger on a large tree beside a cliff. That demon tiger is still prowling near the corpse. None of us dare go close.”

“What a pity for that brother of mine. Even in death, he cannot rest peacefully.” As he said this, Luo Ye’s eyes became somewhat red.

Hearing Luo Ye say this, Li Si felt sorrow in his heart. Such a man had died just like that, and even his corpse could not be brought back, left exposed in the wilderness.

At the same time, he also felt worried for Cao Meng. Now that Cao Meng’s last relative was gone, what should he do in the future?

While spending time with Cao Meng, he had already come to like this child very much. He was extremely sensible, making Li Si feel as though he were seeing his past self.

“I came this time to take Cao Meng to my home. My family is not that wealthy, but raising one more person is still possible. I also have no children, so I will raise him as my own child from now on.” Luo Ye looked at Li Si seriously. It was obvious that he meant it.

“Let us put this matter aside for now. Do not tell Cao Meng recently.” Li Si drank a mouthful of tea, pondered for a moment, and said, “I am going to bring Brother Cao’s corpse back.”

“Scholar Li, you absolutely must not.” Hearing Li Si say this, Luo Ye immediately became somewhat anxious and hurriedly advised him, “That demon tiger has already cultivated into a spirit. It is no longer something ordinary people can deal with. It is prowling around Cao Qing’s corpse because it is waiting for us to go there.”

“Scholar Li, although I have heard that you have methods to subdue demons and suppress fiends, why risk yourself for his corpse?”

“After all, he is already dead. Those of us still alive must live properly.” Luo Ye kept trying to persuade him, and cold sweat was already beginning to appear on his forehead.

“I like this child Cao Meng very much.” Li Si sipped a mouthful of tea and sighed. “I will not let his father’s corpse hang on a mountain cliff and be exposed in the wilderness.”

Luo Ye still wanted to persuade him, but Li Si raised his hand to stop him from continuing and said seriously, “I have already made my decision. You do not need to persuade me.”

“I need to make some preparations today. Tomorrow, can you tell me how to get there?” Li Si looked at Luo Ye and asked.

Seeing that he could not persuade Li Si, Luo Ye could only say helplessly, “I will take you there tomorrow.”

“Then many thanks, Brother Luo.” Li Si said with a smile.

Luo Ye sighed, then showed a worried expression and asked, “Then that child Cao Meng...”

“Let us not tell him.” Li Si paused slightly. Thinking that he would be going into the mountains for a while and it would be inconvenient to take care of him, he said, “After lunch today, let him go to your home by himself.”

At the same time, as if thinking of something, he searched in his sleeve for a while, took out some pieces of silver, and handed them to Luo Ye. “Take this silver.”

“This... How could that do?” As soon as Luo Ye saw Li Si giving him money, he immediately refused. Although his family was not wealthy, he did not want to take Li Si’s money for nothing.

Seeing him refuse, Li Si secretly nodded in his heart.

At the same time, he forcefully stuffed the silver into Luo Ye’s hand and said with a smile, “No matter what, I can be considered Cao Meng’s teacher. It should be fine for me to help my own student a little.”

Luo Ye still wanted to refuse, but Li Si glared at him and said, “I am giving it to him, not to you. What are you refusing for?”

Seeing Li Si like this, Luo Ye could only helplessly accept the silver and let out a long sigh. “Then I will thank you on behalf of my dead brother.”

After they had spoken to this point, the two agreed on the time to set out tomorrow, and Li Si saw Luo Ye off.

At this moment, Cao Meng returned after buying spring onions, ginger, and garlic.

“Teacher, what did Uncle Luo say to you?” As soon as he saw Li Si, Cao Meng asked somewhat nervously.

“It was nothing much.” Li Si smiled, then said, “Haven’t I been practicing martial arts recently? I need some medicinal herbs as support. I asked him about it yesterday, and today he came over to give me a reply.”

He had already agreed with Luo Ye that they would not tell Cao Meng about this matter during this period, and they had even prepared the reason.

“Oh.” Cao Meng breathed a sigh of relief, then asked again, “Then did Uncle Luo mention news about my father?”

“He did.” Li Si nodded with certainty, then said, “Your Uncle Luo said that your father came back the day before yesterday, but after replenishing the things he needed, he hurried into the mountains again.”

Seeing Li Si say this, Cao Meng completely relaxed and sighed. “I truly hope nothing will happen to my father.”

“Your father is blessed by heaven. He will definitely be fine.” A trace of pity flashed through Li Si’s eyes, but he quickly returned to a normal expression.

“Come on, let us go cook.” Li Si interrupted Cao Meng’s thoughts and reminded him.

“All right, Teacher,” Cao Meng answered.

Afterward, the two went to make lunch. After finishing lunch, the two placed the dishes on the table and began eating.

While eating, Li Si said to Cao Meng, “I will be going out this time for a few days as well. This afternoon, go to your Uncle Luo’s home. From now on, stay at his home. There will be someone there to take care of you.”

Hearing Li Si say this, Cao Meng froze, and a trace of reluctance appeared in his eyes. But he still answered sensibly, “All right. I will listen to Teacher.”

“Also.” Li Si seemed to think of something and continued instructing him, “This afternoon, go tell Yu Hu and the others as well. Starting from today, they should stop coming here. We will talk again once I return.”

“Mm, all right, Teacher.”