The three of them took a car for three to four hours before arriving.
It wasn't due to the distance, but because the mountain roads were difficult to navigate. If Bai Suxiang hadn't been so quick to offer extra payment, the driver would have absolutely refused to go.
San Dong City was not large in area, but it had quite a few mountainous regions.
Some of these areas were even deep within forests.
Of course, although Sanshui Village was not in the deepest parts of the mountains, it was close to them.
After the taxi stopped at the edge of the village woods, the three of them got out.
Liu Sandao looked up towards the direction of the village.
He found that the Earth God’s temple was not far from the village entrance.
He was familiar with this Earth God’s temple; he had seen it in the Water Mirror and still remembered it.
It was said to be an Earth God’s temple, but in reality, it was just a small cave that could only accommodate one person offering incense.
Outside, a skillful craftsman had built a wall with bricks, and at the very top, several decorative shapes were placed, giving it a sense of history.
However, due to years of disrepair, a section of the Earth God’s temple’s edge had bricks that were about to fall off.
The three walked towards the village. As they passed the Earth God’s temple, Liu Sandao and Fu Ruhai couldn't help but glance inside.
It was empty, with nothing inside.
There were no incense sticks or candles, nor any offerings. Of course, Earth God Su Ni was also not there.
This was strange. Hadn't it been rumored that Su Ni had changed into new clothes? How could he have made his Earth God’s temple so dilapidated?
With Earth God Su Ni absent, Liu Sandao guessed that he must have gone to chat with the Mountain God again, or perhaps to bestow blessings.
Fu Ruhai didn't seem concerned about these matters; it was as if he had grown accustomed to them.
This world was just like this. Being able to take care of oneself was already quite good.
Although he and Liu Sandao seemed to be at leisure now, they might be laid off at any time.
Because it seemed that fewer and fewer blessings had been bestowed recently.
…
Bai Suxiang asked everyone she met for the address of Zhang Sishui’s house, and also listened to the villagers' evaluations of Zhang Sishui.
“What a sin! Truly, it’s either not to have children; or if you have one, their upper lip has a cleft! Everyone says her family is destined to have no descendants! Tell me, how much sin must they have committed!”
“Pitiable, truly pitiable. Her family was already poor, and with her husband’s poor health and their child like that, it’s truly, tsk, tsk, tsk!”
“Even the Earth God isn’t helping them anymore. Where else can her family find hope? I think that child will leave us sooner or later too.”
…
Hearing the villagers’ words made her heart ache. Bai Suxiang, who was usually cheerful, now wore a worried expression.
Liu Sandao remained calm, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Fu Ruhai could only sigh, and sigh again.
They finally reached Zhang Sishui’s house. As they entered, the wooden door creaked open with a long drawn-out sound. This startled Bai Suxiang, and she unconsciously moved closer to Liu Sandao.
“Who is it?”
A soft voice asked.
“May I ask if this is Zhang Sishui’s home?”
Bai Suxiang quickly replied, to first alleviate the owner’s concerns.
In fact, a house like this wouldn’t even attract a thief.
Perhaps because no one had visited for a long time, Zhang Sishui was flustered by Bai Suxiang’s arrival.
“Quick, quick, come in and sit!”
After inviting the three into the house, Zhang Sishui appeared overwhelmed.
She didn’t know that so many people would come at once, nor did she know the purpose of their visit.
Bai Suxiang hastily explained that they had come to understand the situation of Zhang Sishui’s family.
Before they could say much, Zhang Sishui, with tears in her eyes, began to recount her child’s condition.
Eight out of ten sentences she spoke were about her child; she didn’t mention herself or her husband at all.
Perhaps, children were the engine of every family.
The house suddenly became lively. Soon after, her husband came out carrying their child.
Liu Sandao saw that the child’s upper lip did indeed have a slight cleft, but fortunately, it was not severe.
However, in the village, gossip was unavoidable.
Bai Suxiang stood up, looked at the child, and said, “This child is so cute, may I hold him?”
Zhang Sishui looked at Bai Suxiang, surprised and delighted.
Because of the village gossip that she had committed sins to give birth to such a child, many people avoided them, let alone holding the child.
Other than family members, Bai Suxiang was the first person who wanted to hold her child.
Coincidentally, the child was asleep, but as soon as Bai Suxiang held him, he woke up.
Zhang Sishui sighed, “Oh no, he’s awake, he’ll probably start crying now!”
But he didn’t.
The child actually smiled, and didn’t cry, which was truly surprising.
Fu Ruhai knew this was destiny.
Bai Suxiang played with the child for a while, and Zhang Sishui also roughly explained her family’s situation, wiping away tears from time to time.
Her husband stood by, silent.
Liu Sandao did not interrupt, but found a place to sit down.
“Look, I was so busy talking that I forgot to ask you to sit.”
Zhang Sishui said hastily upon seeing Liu Sandao’s action, making some space and gesturing for Fu Ruhai to sit as well.
Fu Ruhai did not refuse and walked over to sit down.
With the child’s smile, it seemed as if all the gloom would pass.
Bai Suxiang regained her unique cheerfulness. After asking a few questions she cared about, she carefully examined the child’s condition.
She felt that although the child had a slight cleft lip, it was not serious. Perhaps consulting a doctor specializing in this could solve the problem.
But at this moment, Liu Sandao noticed a dark shadow, not a human shadow, but a divine or ghostly presence.
"Swish!"
Instantly, the dark shadow disappeared.
Liu Sandao immediately split his essence to pursue it, but because he didn't know the direction the shadow had fled, he couldn't catch up.
However, when he steadied himself and looked, he had already arrived at the Earth God’s temple.
At this moment, a voice from inside said: “Damn it, what bad luck. After doing this for so long, I actually got a fake blessing fruit! What kind of garbage blessing fruit system is this? It hasn't been running for long and it's already doing this. It’s no wonder it’ll fail.” Su Dan Fiction Network
This statement piqued Liu Sandao’s interest, so he walked inside.
Although the Earth God’s temple appeared small to mortals, the area connected to the Earth God’s dwelling was vast.
Earth God Su Ni had made the interior very spacious. Although it was a bit crude, it wasn’t so small that it couldn’t accommodate others, like a friend.
“Who are you? Why have you come?”
Su Ni was very surprised. The person who had entered had no immortal aura, yet they could enter his abode. Could they be a demon?
But the person clearly had a light gait, was handsome and elegant, and didn't look like a demon in any way, nor did they have any strange smell.
“Greetings, immortal friend. I am Liu Sandao. I have just arrived and unintentionally overheard you saying you obtained a fake blessing fruit. I came to see what the matter is. I wonder if it’s convenient?”
Liu Sandao asked in return.
“Alas, that damned blessing fruit you mentioned, it makes me angry just talking about it!”