"Wulin City?"
He Li thought for a moment. Did Wulin City have gods? Didn't Wulin City have West Lake and Lingyin Temple? Why would it have gods?
However, that wasn't the point. The point was that Wulin had gods. As for being killed by the Hunter Group, tsk... forget it, let them amuse themselves.
After getting dressed, he left the hotel and went to Willow's place. He chatted with Willow. When He Li said he was leaving, Willow felt very guilty. He thought it was because he had a girlfriend, and He Li was sad that he wasn't living at home anymore, which made He Li want to leave.
He Li once again gave Willow a series of earnest explanations, and Willow felt a bit better. He picked up his phone to buy He Li a plane ticket. He Li stopped him, "I have Xiao Lan. Eight thousand kilometers on zero fuel, not a penny spent. Why would I take a plane and waste money?"
He Li then cooked a table full of delicious dishes, with generous portions. Willow ate happily. While eating, He Li chatted with Willow about everyday matters with a smile.
When He Li wasn't going crazy or fighting, he was quite down-to-earth. He was willing to cook for his friends, listen to them talk about the trivial matters at their companies, enjoy gossip, curse loudly, and laugh heartily.
In fact, deep down, he still had a bit of a people-pleasing personality and cherished his friends. Just after fiercely battling in the God War, destroying heaven and earth, he was later picked up by Kuer like a chick and scolded again.
It was the same today. He had just experienced a fierce battle last night, fighting Kexuotuo to a standstill and almost dying. The next day, when bidding farewell to Willow, he was afraid Willow would overthink things, so he specifically cooked a large table of Chinese food. He listened to Willow's rambling, telling him the dramatic and often cliché love stories of him and his girlfriend.
That night,
He Li sat at the harbor of Victoria Harbour and took a deep breath. In the autumn rain season, the wind from Victoria carried a hint of cold. The sea was shrouded in thick fog, but it was exceptionally clear in He Li's eyes.
In He Li's opinion,
The news of the Hunter Group killing gods was basically a smokescreen released by the Hunter Group to lure gods from all over the world to Wulin, and then the Hunter Group would use their killing weapons to slaughter the gods.
However,
He Li didn't care. He believed that not only he would go, but certain other gods would also go. Although they didn't believe that any god would be killed by the Hunter Group, what if there were benefits to be gained, or opportunities to exploit?
The Hunter Group's plan was already showing initial results. The rest would depend on himself.
At this moment,
He Li stood at the harbor, facing the fog-shrouded sea ahead, with the brightly lit Victoria behind him. He seemed to be standing at the boundary between light and darkness, in heaven facing hell, with a foggy path ahead.
But at this moment, his heart was as calm as water. This was his best state.
He walked alone, yet it felt as if he were leading a million soldiers.
He Li smiled slightly and leaped towards the sea. Xiao Lan followed closely, stepping on the sea surface, galloping wildly, and charging into the fog.
The scenery of West Lake is unparalleled.
Before coming, I had infinite longing. After arriving... it's quite good.
At a breakfast stall, He Li, holding a large bowl of tofu pudding, shivered as he returned to the table. Coriander, minced garlic, chives, and chili oil were all present. In a small dish, he poured soy sauce, aged vinegar, and chili oil to dip his xiaolongbao.
Taking a bite of xiaolongbao and a sip of tofu pudding was pure bliss.
What the hell is a sandwich or a hamburger? Get lost!
Kuer, far away in Taxian, was curled up in the bathroom, his expression pained. Watching his private savings dwindle, his heart wailed:
He Li! You damn son of a bitch! You're extorting me again!
Yes, He Li, who was penniless, thought of the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, the eagle of the Pamir Plateau, and Mr. Kuer.
The conversation was as follows...
He Li: "It's me, He Li. Send money."
Kuer: "You die! You go to hell! How much?"
He Li: "Twenty thousand!"
Kuer: "No!"
He Li: "Nineteen thousand nine hundred."
Kuer: "Only 6 thousand."
He Li: "Okay."
Kuer: "Damn it!"
He Li: "Goodbye!"
The efficiency of their conversation was unheard of. One stated a need, the other fulfilled it. One had no bottom line, the other had a limit. This was a perfect match.
By now, He Li owed Kuer eighty thousand yuan, which was all of Kuer's private savings accumulated over the years. For a Tajik man to have a secret stash was truly rare, but He Li had encountered this rarity and then plucked him clean, leaving not even a feather.
Kuer's feelings were complicated. Having a friend like He Li, who was such a big sucker, was definitely a result of his past life's bad karma.
After eating, He Li and Xiao Lan checked into a pet-friendly guesthouse that was also inexpensive. He only had six thousand yuan on him, so he had to spend it sparingly. Frugality is a virtue of our generation, but the main reason was that he was out of money.
Most people in their lives struggle between "saving a little money" and "you only live once."
He Li was no different. Even though he possessed extraordinary power, even though he was a god, he couldn't shamelessly dine and dash or stay for free.
For a god to reach He Li's level was not easy.
This guesthouse was very distinctive. It was an ancient-style courtyard with a three-story building. In the center of the courtyard stood a large willow tree, a very common weeping willow.
He Li paused when he saw the weeping willow. Chinese people, to varying degrees, had some knowledge of Feng Shui. It was said that one should not plant locust trees in the courtyard and willows outside the courtyard.
There was also a saying: "Do not plant mulberry and locust trees in the front, and do not plant poplars and willows in the back."
Mulberry trees, "mulberry" sounds like "mourning," implying bad luck.
The character for locust tree (槐) can be broken down into "wood" (木) and "ghost" (鬼), giving the locust tree the meaning of an "yin wood" or "ghost wood."
Poplar trees are also called "ghost clappers" and are considered "yin wood."
Willows do not bear fruit or seeds, implying that the owner's family will not have male descendants.
Generally, trees planted in one's own courtyard are mostly deciduous trees, such as camphor, plane trees, goldenrain trees, and so on.
But this tree was planted in the courtyard, full of vitality. Its drooping branches were like an umbrella or a canopy, very beautiful.
He Li stopped and looked at the willow tree. The owner next to him also stopped, looking at He Li.
He Li asked, "Why is this tree planted in the courtyard?"
The owner tilted his head in confusion and asked, "Is there a problem?"
He Li said, "One does not plant locust trees in the courtyard, and one does not plant willows outside the courtyard. Why is this willow tree planted here?"
He Li was also idle. What business was it of his? But He Li was in a good mood today, and all sorts of thoughts came to mind.
The owner looked at the willow tree, then turned and said, "Yes, one does not plant locust trees in the courtyard and does not plant willows outside the courtyard. This willow tree was not planted outside the courtyard, but inside the courtyard."
"Huh?"
He Li looked at the owner in surprise. What he said... made perfect sense. The owner planted it in the courtyard, so what was the problem?
He Li smacked his lips. He was being too inquisitive.
In the evening,
He Li finished his meal, played on his phone for a while, took a bath, and went to bed.
In the middle of the night,
A "rustling" sound could be heard. He Li turned over, without opening his eyes, and mumbled incoherently, "Xiao Lan, go to the toilet to pee. Don't pee by the bed."
"Woof!"
Xiao Lan barked, pulled back He Li's quilt, and looked out the window.
"What is it, in the middle of the night?"
He Li groggily got up and followed Xiao Lan's gaze out the window.
Then,
His eyes widened abruptly.
"Damn it, I told you not to plant locusts in the courtyard and willows outside the courtyard, and that old geezer of an owner argued with me. Now there's trouble."