Chương 19: Mysterious Background

The Li Residence. As Song Que walked in, Li Tie, lazily reclining on a chair, grinned and called out:"A'niu, come have some tea. Food will be ready shortly." He then yelled into the house, "Er'ya, help your dad go find that brat Gou'dan and drag him back here!" It was natural for children to be playful. Now that the Li family no longer worried about food and clothing, Gou'dan's labor had been officially liberated, allowing him to run wild to his heart's content.

Song Que hadn't sat with Old Li for long before the two kids came panting back. Gou'dan loudly greeted, "Brother A'niu!" but upon seeing Old Li glaring at him, he instantly bolted like a frightened rabbit. Watching the father and son's antics, Song Que shook his head, his heart filled with intense envy. In two lifetimes, he had never truly tasted the flavor of having a family. Speaking of which, he was practically a freeloader at the Li house now.

Initially, he would occasionally light a fire and cook at his own place, but later, out of sheer laziness, he simply came over here to mooch meals. The entire Li family welcomed this wholeheartedly. They knew exactly why their lives were improving day by day. Their gratitude toward Song Que was immense. They treated him like their own son. At the very least, this allowed Song Que, after two lifetimes, to finally feel a trace of warm family affection.

After eating their fill, the uncle and nephew went back out to the courtyard to rest and have a cup of tea. Leisurely and content, life was incredibly peaceful. Thinking of how his family had transformed over the past year, Li Tie sighed emotionally:"The world is truly unpredictable. I remember around this time last year, you were still lying in bed, struck down by a severe chill." Hearing this, Song Que was also momentarily dazed. Isn't that right?

Calculating the time, it had been almost exactly a year since he transmigrated to this world. A year without the internet, without entertainment, without beauties surrounding him—he honestly didn't know how he had survived. By now, Song Que had begun to forget some things from his past. Having not used his original name for so long, even saying it felt awkward on his tongue. Since I'm here, I might as well make myself at home. Song Que sighed inwardly.

He had completely assimilated into this identity and this world. The old man and the youth both harbored their own thoughts, sitting in silence and letting out soft sighs. Lord Husky looked at them with disdain, paying them no mind. It smugly found a dry, sunny spot, lay down, and squinted its eyes lazily. A long while later, Song Que finally asked with a hint of melancholy:"Uncle, let me ask you something. Back then, how did you and my father get attacked by a tiger?

With the whole hunting team there, how could no one have been on guard?" Li Tie's body trembled slightly. His eyes glazed over in reminiscence for a long time before they grew red, and he recounted:"It was because we were momentarily blinded by greed."

"Back then, the team was hunting in the northern ravines. Your father and I accidentally discovered a wild ginseng plant. I still remember how stunned we were when we saw it. The plant was massive, already forming a thick base. It must have been an old ginseng, over a hundred years old at least."

"We found it hidden in a very secluded crevice. Greed seized our hearts, and we didn't tell anyone. While the team was resting, we used the excuse of relieving ourselves to sneak back and confirm our find."

"Who could have expected..." As he spoke, Old Li's face contorted with agony, tears continuously streaming down his face. Hearing this, Song Que also fell silent. Who could be blamed for this? He stepped forward and patted Li Tie's back to comfort him.

"Uncle, it's all in the past." A long while later, after his emotions had gradually calmed, Old Li wiped his tears and continued:"I thought I was dead for sure back then. Fortunately, Captain Zhong heard our screams and brought people to drive the tiger away, allowing me to keep my life. It's a pity your father didn't make it." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Song Que knew the rest of the story.

Li Tie lost a leg, was kicked off the hunting team, and returned home to farm and raise his family, while frequently supporting the Song family. His days were grueling and bitter. Song Que's mother, overwhelmed with grief and exhausted from laboring to raise him, succumbed to a sudden illness six years later. The past was like a fleeting wisp of smoke. Taking a deep breath and clearing the doubts in his heart, he smiled and patted Li Tie's back to console him:"Uncle, it's fine. Aren't things great now?"

Hearing this, Old Li looked up at him and smiled:"Thank goodness you've grown up, A'niu." He then added casually:"Since then, I've never gone back to that place, nor have I heard of anyone in the village digging up a century-old ginseng. When we have the chance, we should go look for it. Perhaps that is the final inheritance Brother Song left for you, A'niu." Afraid that returning there would trigger sad memories for him, Song Que smiled and said:"Alright, Uncle. It's not important. We'll go whenever we're free."

Who knew that Old Li would suddenly become obsessed like a man possessed? Thinking that this was his sworn brother's relic meant for his orphaned son, he felt an overwhelming urge to go there immediately. Furthermore, Song Que's skills gave him immense confidence.

"No need to wait. We'll prepare a bit and go tomorrow. A'niu, you must get it. Your father left it for you; it's time you took it back." Hearing this, Song Que didn't know whether to laugh or cry:"Alright, Uncle, there's no immediate rush. We lack nothing right now. If the thing is still there, getting it early or late makes no difference. If someone has already dug it up, rushing now is useless." Unexpectedly, Li Tie glared at him:"What do you know, kid?!

Even if we don't lack money, we can dig it up to nourish our bodies! You're at a growing age. Nourish yourself well, find a wife early, and give birth to a bunch of kids. Your parents in the netherworld will be overjoyed to see it."

"Okay, okay, Uncle. Whatever you say goes." Song Que immediately zipped his lips. Besides, with his current skills, he could walk sideways through the Great Ridge Mountains. What lions, bears, tigers, or leopards? They were nothing. Accompanying Old Li on a trip to fulfill his wish was as easy as eating breakfast. The possessed Li Tie was in a massive hurry, unable to wait until tomorrow morning. He hurriedly shooed Song Que home to pack his gear while he ducked into his own house to prepare.

"It's quite far from here to there; it'll probably take a two-day journey. Hurry back and pack, kid. We're setting off at the crack of dawn tomorrow!" What else could Song Que do? He could only shake his head and leave. The next morning. Before the sun had even peeked over the horizon, morning mist blanketed the road. Carrying baskets on their backs and holding torches, Li Tie and Song Que bid farewell to Aunt Li and set off toward the dark silhouette of the Great Ridge Mountains.

Returning to the forest made Husky exceptionally excited. The moment they left the village, it tilted its head back and let out a long howl. Numerous roars and howls echoed back from the distance, making the atmosphere incredibly lively. In the sky, the "drone" Mountain Sparrow flew back and forth, scouting the path ahead. Perhaps due to his excitement, Li Tie pulled Song Que along, chatting about everything under the sun. The dark trek didn't feel overly tedious.... The gloomy Great Ridge Mountains.

The first rays of sunlight tore through the mysterious curtain of night. All things seemed to resurrect amidst the joyful chorus of a myriad of creatures. Two figures strolled leisurely through the forest, their expressions as natural as if walking through their own backyard, not the deadly, trap-filled Great Ridge Mountains. It was Song Que and Li Tie. Li Tie had absolute, unquestioning faith in Song Que's freakish intuition.

Therefore, he felt absolutely safe walking beside this kid in the forest; nothing could go wrong. As they walked, Husky suddenly growled, launching itself like an arrow toward a nearby bush. A moment later, following a rustling sound and a whimpering cry, Husky trotted back, wagging its tail with a fat rabbit clamped in its jaws. With Husky acting as the hired muscle, hunting was just this relaxing. Satisfactorily rubbing its canine head, Li Tie watched with extreme envy.

Unable to help himself, he reached out to pet its head too:"What a truly good dog." His praise was met with a snap of gleaming white fangs. Startled, Li Tie jerked his hand back. You're a dog! Your whole family are dogs! The wolf bared its fangs and growled, secretly despising him in its little brain. Truly using dog eyes to look down on humans... ah, no, looking down on wolves. Lord Husky held grudges for a long time.

It still remembered how unfriendly this guy was when it was a pup, wanting to beat it to death, skin it, and eat its meat. Smiling, Song Que patted its head. Only then did Lord Husky satisfy itself with its role as a servant and continue leading the way. Watching its figure bounding ahead, Li Tie harbored immense resentment.... They trekked straight into the northern depths of the Great Ridge Mountains. When the sun reached its zenith, the two found a dry, open spot to light a fire.

Song Que quickly set up a cooking area, processing two rabbits and three wild pheasants for a simple barbecue lunch. Husky had now transformed back into a lord. It only needed to lie leisurely by the fire, resting and waiting to open its mouth when the food was ready. Now was the time to enjoy the fruits of its labor. It didn't forget to glare at the freeloader sitting idly not far away. Who did I provoke this time?

Old Li felt uncomfortable under its stare, not understanding what he had done to trigger this crazy wolf. Sitting awkwardly around the fire waiting for the food, Li Tie tried to strike up a conversation to break the eerie atmosphere:"A'niu, did your parents ever tell you about the background of your Song family?" Song Que was stunned. Did the Song family have some unknown background? No way, I have absolutely zero impression of that. Thus, he quickly shook his head.

Seeing this, Li Tie sighed:"You were probably too young back then, so your father didn't mention it. Who could have foreseen the accident? Your mother probably didn't say anything later either, fearing it would become a heavy burden on your heart." Could there actually be a hidden mystery? Am I the descendant of royalty or nobility? Or the young master of some powerful faction, hunted by enemies and forced into hiding here? Having an MC Template usually comes with a 'Vengeance Halo,' right?

Doesn't this mean a straight path of grinding mobs and leveling up? Hearing this, Song Que's spirit jolted awake. He asked excitedly:"Uncle, does my Song family have some hidden secret? Hurry up and tell me!"