Chapter 579 Please Call Me Dead Wood

soon.

Le Zhuang led a group of neighbors into the bedroom. One of the oldest men, Gu Lianggong, who had the best reputation among the neighbors, took over the command. The neighbors were doing all kinds of things to deal with Le Wenmao's funeral. When they saw Taoist Xuanqing, who looked sad at the bedside, they couldn't help but ask:
"Master, what is your relationship with Le Wenmao?"

Le Wenmao does not have many relatives, especially his son and daughter-in-law who died tragically at the hands of the Zhu family. Le Wenmao's relatives knew that there was a conflict between the Le family and the Zhu family, and were afraid of being angered by the Zhu family.

The Zhu family is so powerful that ordinary people cannot afford to offend them. For all these years, no relatives have visited the Le family.

However, he had visited Le Wenmao many times before. As Le Wenmao's neighbor, he had met Le Wenmao's relatives many times. He was very familiar with Le Wenmao's relatives, but this was the first time he met Taoist Master Xuanqing.

In particular, Wang Ping'an, who was beside Taoist Xuanqing, made him particularly concerned. He didn't understand why a Taoist priest would take a one or two-year-old child out.

Le Zhuang spoke first and answered, "Grandpa Gu, this is my uncle!"

"Uncle, where did you get your uncle from?"

Gu Lianggong's face was full of confusion. Not only him, but even the woman who was preparing to change Le Wenmao's clothes and tidy up his appearance was stunned when she heard what Le Zhuang said.

The Le family has lived on this street for who knows how many years. Among them, many grew up with Le Wenmao, or are a few years younger than Le Wenmao, or are in their teens or twenties. They married into this street and are particularly familiar with the Le family. How could they not know Le Wenmao's wife who died young?

He is an orphan, so where do he have brothers and sisters?

Gu Lianggong shuddered all over, staring at Taoist Xuanqing intently, his face and eyes full of disbelief, he said in a trembling voice, "You are Gouzi - no, Taoist, you, you, you are the disciple of Taoist Ku Mu back then?"

He is the same age as Le Wenmao and grew up with him. He used to play with Le Wenmao a lot. However, due to some special reasons, he and his other playmates no longer play with Le Wenmao. The main reason is that Le Wenmao actually found Taoist Master Kurumu's apprentice to play with him.

According to his parents, Taoist Master Ku Mu's disciple was a jinx who brought death to his parents. Playing with him would bring disaster, so his parents did not allow him to play with Taoist Master Ku Mu's disciple.

Those who used to play with Le Wenmao had also tried to persuade him, but were all ignored by Le Wenmao. Some of them had conflicts with Le Wenmao due to their aggressive words and because they were the disciples of Taoist Master Kurumu.

He had never dealt with Taoist Master Ku Mu's apprentice. It was because his parents did not allow him to play with Taoist Master Ku Mu's apprentice. However, he was still very familiar with Taoist Master Ku Mu's apprentice. However, he remembered that Taoist Master Ku Mu's apprentice left Liangshui Town early when he was in his teens or twenties. He did not know where he went, and Taoist Master Ku Mu did not tell him.

He never showed up at the wedding of his sister and Le Wenmao, his sister's funeral, or even the funeral of Taoist Master Ku Mu, and it is unknown whether he died outside.

According to the gossip of his parents and neighbors, he was the disciple of Taoist Master Ku Mu. He learned some mediocre Kung Fu from the Taoist Master Ku Mu, and thought he was extraordinary. He followed others to make his way in the world. However, he provoked someone he shouldn't have provoked, and was slapped to death, dying tragically on the street.

Never thought of it.

The disciple of Taoist Master Ku Mu, who has not appeared for decades, actually appeared in the Le family today.

A woman who was changing clothes for Le Wenmao heard Gu Lianggong's exclamation and couldn't help asking, "Brother Gu, who are you talking about? Why haven't I heard of him?"

She had been married for decades and was very familiar with every tree and blade of grass here, but she had never heard that Le Wenmao had a brother-in-law who was a Taoist priest.

"It's me!" Taoist Xuanqing nodded, looking at the unfamiliar appearance of Gu Lianggong. After all, he hadn't seen him for decades, and he probably hadn't interacted with him much when he was a child, so naturally he didn't know him and felt very strange. When he heard the woman's address, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he said thoughtfully: "Are you Gu Lianggong?"

"Yes, yes, it's me!"

Gu Lianggong suppressed his excitement. He had heard rumors about Taoist Xuanqing's tragic death on the street for decades. He never thought that he would run into Taoist Xuanqing at Le's house decades later. He asked curiously, "Gouzi - no, Taoist, I wonder what I should call you now?"

"Call me Deadwood!"

Taoist Xuanqing said with a complicated expression.

Dead wood.

It was his master's Taoist name. According to his master, if he failed to learn any skills in Ziyang Palace and failed to make a name for himself outside, he would rush back to Liangshui Town to inherit his Kurumu Temple and the title of Kurumu Taoist would be given to him.

pity.

The news of the successive deaths of Wenjun and his master reached him in letters, leaving him with no energy to think - nor did he have the courage to return to Liangshui Town, so he just randomly found a place and built a Taoist temple.

Now he has come to Liangshui Town with the Wang family to avoid the disaster and cannot reveal his real name.

"Deadwood, this isn't..."

Gu Lianggong opened his mouth subconsciously, but before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Taoist Xuanqing, "After my master left, his Kurumu Temple is mine. Naturally, his Taoist name is also mine. After all, my master is counting on me to carry forward Kurumu Temple!"

"So that's it!"

After hearing the explanation of Taoist Xuanqing, Gu Lianggong did not ask any more questions. He was not curious about this matter. He asked, "Taoist Ku Mu, I wonder what you have been doing outside for the past few decades?"

"What else can I do? Of course I'll go on a journey!"

Taoist Xuanqing laughed at himself. His master had not mentioned to outsiders that he went to Ziyang Palace to practice. He also did not want to tell others about this matter. It was not because it was shameful, but because he had not made any achievements. Telling it would only bring shame to his master and Ziyang Palace. He casually said at the banquet:

"Traveling around the world?"

An idea flashed across Gu Lianggong's mind. He recalled what the neighbors had said about Taoist Xuanqing leaving Liangshui Town. It seemed that many of them were true, except for his tragic death on the street. He asked again:
"For so many years, Taoist Master Ku Mu has not seen you come back. You came back this time because you heard about the Le family. Are you here to avenge the Le family?"

"You think too highly of me. I know exactly what I am capable of. I couldn't even make a name for myself out there, and now I'm back in such a mess!"

Taoist Xuanqing laughed at himself and sighed, "I would like to stand up for the Le family, but I have to be able to do so. Even though I have been away from Liangshui Town for decades, I dare not forget the name of the Zhu family. With my limited ability, how could I possibly be a match for the Zhu family? I will be thankful if they don't cause me trouble. How dare I dream of standing up for the Le family?"

(End of this chapter)