The streets were already quite busy, even though dawn had just broken. Many farmers, carrying their loads, had set up stalls on either side of the road.
Li Xuan glanced around and immediately remembered Li Weiye's words about the 147th day being the market day in Dongyang Town. Today was the 21st, which explained why farmers were out so early.
At number 56 Dongyang Street, Li Xuan stopped in front of a door. According to Li Weiye, this house was supposed to be allocated to him. However, the deed now bore Li Quan's name.
Next door, at number 55, was the house allocated to Li Weiye, which had also become Li Quan's property.
What's more, Li Xuan noticed that neither number 55 nor 56 had any farmers setting up stalls in front of them. Even at numbers 54 and 57, there were only one or two farmers scattered about.
"It seems Li Quan wields quite some influence in this town," Li Xuan sighed faintly. The saying 'wicked people emerge from humble places' held some truth.
The lack of legal awareness also contributed to the arrogance of these bullies.
"Young man, you shouldn't just stand here and look. Something bad might happen if you're seen," said an old woman, about sixty years old, as she walked past Li Xuan and spoke in a low voice.
As if afraid of being overheard, the farmer's wife quickly walked away with the four chickens she was carrying. Li Xuan's gaze shifted, and he slowly followed her footsteps.
"Auntie, you're selling these four chickens, aren't you?" Li Xuan asked with a smile as the farmer's wife put down her chickens in a corner.
"Oh, it's you, young man. My grandson has a high fever, and we don't have money for treatment, so I have to sell my laying hens. Young man, please don't go back to that place just now. If you provoke those people, you won't have an easy time."
The farmer's wife looked up and saw Li Xuan.
"Thank you, Auntie. I was just passing by. Auntie, how much are your chickens? We have guests today, and I was thinking of coming to the market to buy something. Your four chickens look quite plump, so I followed you to ask." Li Xuan asked with a smile.
"Oh, I see. But you look a bit unfamiliar, young man. Whose son are you?" the farmer's wife asked curiously.
"Auntie, see that house at the end of the street? That's our home. Auntie, you mentioned that place just now, are there people there who are not to be trifled with?" Li Xuan pointed to the end of the street and then asked in a low voice.
"Oh, so you're Wang Xiong's son. My goodness, young man, you must have just returned. You don't know, the place where you were standing is where Li Quan and his gang live. Didn't you see? No one dares to set up stalls in front of their doors."
"These young men are uneducated and arrogant, bullying everyone in the village. Alright, alright, I can't say any more. If they find out, we won't have good days." the farmer's wife said in a low voice.
"Mm, good. Thank you, Auntie, I'll remember. Auntie, here's one thousand yuan. Take it to treat your grandson. Please take the chickens back."
After getting the information he wanted, Li Xuan stood up, took out a thousand yuan, and placed it in front of the farmer's wife. As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xuan quickly left.
"Alas, young man, this won't do. My chickens aren't worth this much. Young man..." The farmer's wife stood up and called out to Li Xuan.
In just a few seconds, Li Xuan had disappeared. The farmer's wife rubbed her eyes, then looked at the thousand yuan on the ground, clasped her hands together, and murmured, "I've met a living Bodhisattva."
...
Twenty minutes later, Li Xuan reappeared on the street. This time, Li Xuan carried a square table and a stool and stopped across the street from number 55 Dongyang Street.
After spreading a yellow cloth on the square table, the calligraphy brush and rice paper he had just purchased were placed on it. Having done all this, Li Xuan closed his eyes and waited.
Time quietly passed. The number of pedestrians on the street grew, and the sounds of noise and various calls mixed together. Li Xuan glanced at his phone; it was already nine in the morning. At the same moment, the roller shutter door of number 55 Dongyang Street rose.
Five figures emerged, their attire suggesting they were not law-abiding citizens. Li Xuan took a look; the leader was Li Quan.
"Yo, so many people. It looks like today is a good day." Li Quan said, looking at the pedestrians on the street and waving his hand.
Li Xuan smiled at this and then, with a wave of his left hand, a surge of spiritual energy shot towards Li Quan's left leg as he stepped forward.
*Thump!*
The next moment, Li Quan's foot missed its mark, and he fell directly onto the street. The surrounding pedestrians, who had already seen Li Quan and his group, now kept their distance. Li Quan cried out in pain, and the four ruffians behind him quickly stepped forward to help him up.
"Brother Quan, are you alright?" The four patted the dust off Li Quan's clothes and asked urgently.
"Damn it, I'm fine," Li Quan cursed, then threw off the four men who were supporting him and continued to walk forward.
*Bang!*
"Brother Quan!"
*Bang, bang, bang!*
When the four men saw Li Quan fall straight down again after taking just one step, they rushed forward. But the next moment, all four of them also collapsed as if they were puppets. The onlookers were stunned and exchanged glances.
"Alas, karma, there will be retribution. It seems today is not an auspicious day to be out." This time, Li Quan's face was covered in blood, and he had even broken two front teeth. The other four, though in better condition, also had dust all over their faces.
Li Xuan spoke slowly, his gaze falling on Li Quan.
"What nonsense about retribution? I don't believe it." Li Quan stood up and spat out a mouthful of blood. After glancing at Li Xuan, he took another step forward. However, this time, Li Quan was more cautious, placing his foot in mid-air and slowly lowering it.
After his foot touched the ground, Li Quan smiled and quickly stepped forward.
*Bang!*
As Li Quan lifted his right foot, for some reason, he fell to the ground again.
Even the onlookers winced at this.
The other four, who had been preparing to get up, saw Li Quan fall again and immediately lay flat on the ground, not daring to move. They looked around in terror, clearly frightened by this bizarre occurrence.
"Now, do you believe?" As Li Quan fell again, Li Xuan stood up, walked in front of him, and said with a slight smile.
"It's you,唔…… it must be you……唔…… causing trouble!" Li Quan roared incoherently, his two front teeth having been broken during his fall. Speaking now, his words were very lisping.
"You're wrongly accusing me. Everyone saw that I didn't do anything just now. Well, I was going to help you eliminate this retribution, but since you treat me like this, why should I be a good person? Forget it, forget it."
Li Xuan smiled faintly, then sighed and turned back to sit on his chair.
"Brother Quan, what in the world is happening?" a man lying on the ground asked Li Quan fearfully.
"You...呜... can you really help me?" Li Quan was also inwardly terrified, and looking at the crowd around him, his expression became even more distressed. Seeing Li Xuan's calm demeanor, he asked.
However, Li Quan dared not get up again. If he fell again, it wouldn't just be a few broken teeth.
"If I couldn't, why would I be setting up a stall here?" Li Xuan asked with a smile.
"Then... then help me," Li Quan said.
"Asking for a favor, and still with that tone? I think you all should just stay on the ground. The retribution will be lifted by tonight." Li Xuan shook his head.
"Please, sir, help us." A hint of ferocity flashed in Li Quan's eyes, but he then bowed respectfully to Li Xuan and said.
"If you had done this earlier, you wouldn't have fallen that one extra time. Alright, everyone, get up." Li Xuan smiled and waved his hand.
Li Quan and the other four were stunned. Looking at Li Xuan's smiling face, they got up with a mixture of doubt and belief. Then, under Li Xuan's encouraging gaze, they all tentatively took a step forward.
This time, the five of them encountered no obstacles. Seeing this, they were all overjoyed.
"Alright, don't get too smug too soon. To remove this retribution is not as simple as that. Otherwise, you will be unable to stand in this world every day from now on."
Li Xuan said slowly, looking at the delighted expressions of Li Quan and the other four.
"What?" Li Quan was shocked.
How could they not stand if they were unable to stand every day?
Thinking that it was indeed the person in front of him who had told them to get up, and then there was no problem, Li Quan said with a fawning smile, "Esteemed master, please help us completely, see this mission through to the end."
"See this mission through to the end? Do you all think you are Buddhas?" Li Xuan sneered and then said slowly, "It's not difficult to help you, but the karma you yourselves have sown, the consequences you must bear yourselves. To resolve this, you can only rely on yourselves. I can only show you a clear path; how you choose is entirely up to you."
"Master, please tell us, we will definitely follow your instructions!" Li Quan said with a wry smile and nodded hurriedly.
"The evil you have committed in this life, there is as much karma awaiting you to bear. This inability to stand in the world is only the beginning."
"If it progresses further, your limbs will become numb and immobile. In the end, you will only be able to move your mouths. To resolve this, you must publicly confess your wrongdoings over the years and give them an explanation."
"Besides that, you must also accept the sanctions of worldly law. Otherwise, you will likely spend the rest of your lives lying in bed." Li Xuan said slowly.
"What?!"