Chapter 129: Who Doesn’t Want a Pair of Wings?

Li Changqing understood perfectly well why Tang Xiaoyu wanted to become a wealthy little lady.

After finishing his noodles and wiping the corners of his mouth, he said, "Little girl, have you ever thought about the fact that one day you will have to be reincarnated? You can't stay in the realm of the living forever."

"Reincarnated?" Tang Xiaoyu frowned slightly, giving an awkward laugh. "I haven't thought about it. I like things just the way they are."

Li Changqing remained silent for a moment, then patted her forehead. "Fine, once I'm done with things lately, I'll accompany you to visit that orphanage."

"But I don't remember where the orphanage is anymore." Tang Xiaoyu’s eyes had lit up when she heard Li Changqing was going to take her back, but she quickly grew despondent. She truly could not recall the location.

This girl was really just a little bit... cute in her foolishness?

Li Changqing tapped her forehead and said, "Then I'll help you look for it. There aren't that many orphanages; we'll find it soon enough."

"Mm." Tang Xiaoyu nodded, brightening up again. "Back at the orphanage, there was the respected Mother Superior, and so many friends. I wonder how they are doing now."

Soon, the time neared eleven o'clock. Li Changqing headed out again; this time, he didn't tease Tang Xiaoyu and told her exactly where he was going.

Over the following period, no news came from the Investigation Bureau about taking action against the Jiade Group. Every night, Li Changqing went to the banks of the Linjiang River to train. Upon returning home, he would sleep through the entire day.

A month passed quickly. To Li Changqing's relief, nothing untoward happened to the dumpling shop during this time. Bai Chuan visited frequently, sometimes sitting in the shop to quietly read. Li Lin, knowing he was a friend of Li Changqing’s, treated him very hospitably.

The only thing worth mentioning was Kelly Rosetti. Having failed to receive any commissions for a long time, Kelly had complained a bit at first, but later stopped pestering Li Changqing. Upon closer inquiry, it turned out the guy was practically being kept by Qu Qing. Qu Qing was well-off and had a weakness for Kelly; she had rented him an apartment and even provided him with pocket money. With nothing better to do, Kelly spent his days at home reading various detective novels.

That night, a bright moon hung high in the sky.

"Hah!"

Li Changqing launched a series of rhythmic, aggressive attacks at Xie Quzhen. Half a month ago, he had used every ounce of his strength just to brush against the corner of Xie Quzhen's clothes. Though he wasn't sure if Xie was holding back, his own control over the corpse energy within him had grown exponentially thanks to this frenzied training.

He had reached a point where channeling corpse energy had become instinctual. Consequently, the training rules were modified; Xie Quzhen no longer just dodged his attacks. In Xie’s own words: "While I have plenty of time, continuing to train you like this is of little use. From now on, you need to spar with me. Only through actual combat will you truly accumulate experience. Trust me, the experience gained from fighting me will benefit you immensely."

Thus, half a month ago, Xie Quzhen began to fight back. Since then, Li Changqing had returned home every night black and blue. The first time, Tang Xiaoyu hadn't even recognized him, screaming in terror and thinking a burglar had broken into the house.

Heaven knows what he had endured this past month. If it weren't for his zombie constitution and its rapid recovery, his bones would have shattered long ago. However, the combat experience he had accumulated was exceptionally rich. Now, he could skillfully wield corpse energy in battle.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Li Changqing attacked relentlessly, only to be easily deflected by Xie Quzhen, though he managed to block a few of Xie's counter-strikes. As they sparred, the sky began to brighten.

"Whew."

Li Changqing sat on a large boulder, gasping for air and wiping sweat from his forehead. "Teacher Xie, I've noticed your speed has slowed down," he said with a smile, grabbing a bottle of mineral water and taking a long gulp.

Through a month of contact, they had grown familiar. "Teacher Xie" was the title the man had requested, claiming he had been a teacher long ago.

"It is you who have gradually grown faster." Xie Quzhen had witnessed Li Changqing's progress. Watching the first rays of sunlight reflect off the river, he said, "Your mastery of power and your close-quarters combat ability are now enough to handle ten of the version of you from a month ago."

Li Changqing nodded slightly. With his proficient use of zombie abilities combined with the fighting techniques he had learned—if he were to face the version of himself from a month ago, who knew neither combat skills nor how to use his powers, he could truthfully, without considering talismans, take on ten of them.

"Tonight is the last night," Xie Quzhen said calmly. "From here on out, the causal bond between you and me is completely severed."

Li Changqing was taken aback. "But I’ve only just started..."

"Fighting and the use of power—these are things I can teach you. The rest, no one can teach you," Xie Quzhen said quietly. "Remember, a zombie's ultimate strength comes from baleful energy, resentment, and hatred!"

Li Changqing fell silent, looking at Xie Quzhen, unsure how to respond. He asked curiously, "Teacher Xie, why do you know so much about zombies?"

"Because..."

In an instant, Xie Quzhen's eyes transformed into golden pupils, with flashes of electricity flickering within them. Fangs protruded from his mouth.

"I, too, am a zombie."

The aura around Xie Quzhen changed instantly. He emanated a profound sense of isolation, as if he were deeply lonely. Li Changqing was stunned, though it was somewhat within his expectations. Looking at him, he didn't know what to say.

"I must go," Xie Quzhen said calmly. "Our karmic link is finished."

"Thank you," Li Changqing said, not attempting to hold him back; he knew it would be useless.

With a *bang*, a pair of massive wings sprouted from Xie Quzhen’s back. They were bat-like, with a wingspan of six meters.

"If you wish to obtain the greatest strength of a zombie, you will need baleful energy and resentment," Xie Quzhen paused, then added slowly, "I hope you never have a time when you truly need that power."

With a powerful flap of his wings, Xie Quzhen shot into the sky. Before disappearing, he looked down at Li Changqing. The kid probably didn't realize what kind of terrifying combat experience he had gained from their month of dueling; he would understand once he encountered a real enemy.

Watching the small dot in the sky until it vanished completely, Li Changqing pondered a question: they were both zombies, so why did he have wings and Li Changqing didn't?

After all, who wouldn't want a pair of wings?