After Huang Bo left, Lin Hai took his parents and Lin Yun and left the restaurant as well.
On the way, they passed by Sun Guizhi’s ladder factory. Lin Hai noticed that the factory’s gate had already been sealed. It seemed Huang Bo had acted swiftly.
Lin Hai felt no sympathy for Sun Guizhi’s fate. If it weren’t for his uncle’s sake, he would have wanted her to go to jail.
“Son, who is that Old Xiao? How did you meet him?” Lin Wen asked on the way home. After all, today’s turnaround was entirely thanks to Old Xiao.
“I gave him a ride on the way home, and that’s how we met. As for who he is, I didn’t ask, but I suspect he might be a military man.”
That night, Lin Hai and his parents chatted late into the night before finally going to bed.
Ding Dong!
Just as Lin Hai lay down, his phone buzzed with a WeChat notification.
“Is everything okay at home?” It was a message from Liu Xinyue.
“Everything’s fine, thanks!”
“When are you coming back?”
“What, you miss me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
The simple exchange filled Lin Hai’s heart with sweetness. It felt good to have someone thinking about him.
The next morning, Lin Hai woke up early and immediately started staring at his phone, waiting for red packets.
Unfortunately, he still didn’t manage to grab any. This time, Lin Hai was truly feeling disheartened.
After breakfast, Lin Hai drove Lin Yun to school. With money in hand, the little girl happily went off to school.
When he got back home, he found Lin Wen sitting on the kang, frowning, while his mother massaged his legs.
“Dad, is your leg still bothering you?” Lin Hai asked with concern.
“Sigh, ever since I broke my leg at the construction site two years ago, even though it healed and I can walk fine, it hurts like crazy whenever it’s cloudy or rainy.”
“Should I take you to the hospital?”
“No use,” Lin Wen waved his hand. “Backaches and leg pains aren’t considered real illnesses, so there’s no cure.”
Song Qin also sighed. “Your Aunt Liu next door also has leg pains. She uses a plaster, and it works for her. I tried putting one on your dad, but it didn’t help at all. I think it’s just a lingering problem.”
“Plaster?” Lin Hai’s heart suddenly stirred.
Damn, I have an idea.
Opening WeChat, Lin Hai entered the Heavenly Court Trading Group.
Little Confused Immortal: @Iron Crutch Li, do you still have any of the dog-skin plasters you made before becoming an immortal? I’d like to buy one.
Iron Crutch Li was known as the Medicine King, specializing in curing all sorts of difficult illnesses. His dog-skin plasters were practically legendary.
Ding Dong!
Iron Crutch Li didn’t reply in the group but instead sent Lin Hai a friend request.
Accepted!
Iron Crutch Li: Fellow Daoist, how do you know about the dog-skin plasters I made before becoming an immortal? After us Eight Immortals, no mortals have ascended to immortality. (Followed by a row of shocked emojis)
Lin Hai smirked. Of course, because I’m still in the mortal world, duh.
But naturally, Lin Hai wouldn’t say that.
Little Confused Immortal: It’s not hard. I just calculated it with my fingers. Not only that, but I also know you didn’t look like this before. The Supreme Lord Laozi invited your soul to travel, and you didn’t return for seven days. The attendant thought you had passed away and cremated your body. When your soul returned, you had to take over the body of a dying beggar.
Iron Crutch Li: Great Immortal, your powers are vast! I am in awe! (Another row of shocked emojis)
Well, well, after a bit of hūyou (meaning to bluff or sweet-talk), the title changed from “Fellow Daoist” to “Great Immortal.”
Little Confused Immortal: Alright, I won’t waste your time. Do you still have the plaster or not?
Iron Crutch Li: I do have one left, but it’s a memento from before I ascended.
Little Confused Immortal: Just tell me how much you want for it.
Iron Crutch Li: It’s not for sale.
Pfft!
What the hell? If you’re not selling, why did you even bring it up?
Iron Crutch Li: However, if the Great Immortal can do me a favor, I can give it to you for free.
Oh? There’s a catch?
“Go on, what’s the favor?”
Iron Crutch Li: Since the Great Immortal can divine my past before ascension, you should also know that I had a wife and a son. I want to know, after all these reincarnations, where they are now and how they’re doing.
Damn, Iron Crutch Li had a wife and kid? Lin Hai didn’t know that.
He quickly searched online but found very little useful information.
Crap, what should I do?
After all these years, Iron Crutch Li still cared about his family. He was clearly a man of deep emotions, and Lin Hai couldn’t bear to deceive him.
But without the dog-skin plaster, how would he cure his father’s leg pain?
Just as Lin Hai was struggling with this dilemma…
Ding Dong!
Iron Crutch Li sent him a dog-skin plaster.
What the hell? What’s going on?
Then, Iron Crutch Li sent another message.
Iron Crutch Li: Great Immortal, I know this request might be asking too much. After all, it’s been three thousand years since I ascended. Do your best, and regardless of the outcome, the plaster is yours.
Damn, Lin Hai’s heart grew heavy.
Iron Crutch Li was being incredibly generous.
In that case, Lin Hai had to take this matter seriously.
Little Confused Immortal: I don’t have a way to find out right now, but rest assured, I’ll keep this in mind.
Iron Crutch Li: Thank you, Great Immortal. Oh, and my son has a lotus mark on his buttocks. I imprinted it with my magic before I ascended. No matter how many times he reincarnates, that mark will never disappear.
Pfft! Lin Hai almost spat out his drink.
A lotus mark on his butt? That’s some high-level stuff. Are you trying to imitate Qiong Yao’s Lotus Mark?
But why imprint a lotus on a guy’s butt? Does that mean I have to go around pulling down men’s pants to check?
“Great Immortal, I leave it to you,” Iron Crutch Li said before logging off.
Regardless, Lin Hai decided to use the plaster on his father first.
He went outside, sat in his car, and extracted the dog-skin plaster.
Dog-Skin Plaster: Made by Iron Crutch Li, leader of the Eight Immortals, before his ascension. Can cure all colds, rheumatism, and pain-related ailments in the mortal world.
Damn, that’s impressive. It can cure all ailments?
Lin Hai got out of the car and went back inside.
“Dad, I have a dog-skin plaster here. Try it.”
“Ah, what’s the use? It won’t work.”
“This plaster was given to me by a friend. It’s a family heirloom, supposedly passed down from Iron Crutch Li himself.”
“Every dog-skin plaster seller claims to be a descendant of Iron Crutch Li. It’s all a scam,” Lin Wen waved his hand dismissively.
“Dad, just try it. I brought it all the way here for you.”
“Old Lin, just give it a try. It’s our son’s way of showing filial piety,” Song Qin chimed in.
“Fine, I’ll try it. Let’s see if it works.” Lin Wen finally relented.
Lin Hai peeled off the plaster’s backing, and a strong medicinal smell, mixed with a faint stench, filled the air.
“Son, what kind of plaster is this? It doesn’t smell like anything good,” Lin Wen frowned, covering his nose.
“Don’t worry, Dad. No matter how it smells, the important thing is whether it works.” Lin Hai had full confidence in Iron Crutch Li’s plaster.
He pressed lightly on Lin Wen’s knee joint and gently applied the plaster.
As soon as the plaster touched Lin Wen’s skin, a gentle flow of energy seeped into his muscles and bones.
“This feels amazing,” Lin Wen said, surprised. He had used many plasters before, but this was the first time he felt something like this.
Soon, the faint stench from the plaster disappeared completely.
“How does it feel, Dad?” Lin Hai asked with a smile.
Lin Wen touched his knee joint, stood up, and took a few steps.
Then, with an excited expression, he said, “A-Qin, Xiao Hai, my leg… my leg is better!”
Seeing his father as happy as a child, Lin Hai felt a wave of relief and gratitude toward Iron Crutch Li.
At the same time, a thought crossed his mind.
“Iron Crutch Li, I owe you one. No matter how difficult it is, I won’t give up on finding your wife and son. This is my promise to you!”