After briefly reassuring Mr. Tian, Zhao Yi looked at Li Zhiyuan, tilted his head slightly, and said with a smile:

"You just asked if I dare to come down?

Actually, this river isn't something I have to travel down, but since you're already on it, I just had to join in on the excitement.

No other reason, just don't want you to feel lonely and bored.

In other words, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't even bother with this trip!"

The weak get frustrated and withdraw, while the strong get stronger when they meet strength.

Zhao Yi is clear that in the future, he is bound to cross paths with the young man in front of him. They will definitely meet again, possibly cooperate, possibly unite, possibly guard against each other, but ultimately a victor will emerge, perhaps even... life or death.

Ordinary family sects, if they can't make it, just admit defeat and turn back.

But for those committed to the Dragon King family's legacy, losing is harder to accept than death.

Those old Dragon King families can recognize many blood feuds from each other's ancestral tablets.

The river journey is like a bloody gladiatorial arena; either you submit or you die. Only one can emerge as king while standing.

Li Zhiyuan said nothing.

Zhao Yi was dissatisfied and said, "Hey, give me some face here. I've worked hard to heat up the atmosphere and got myself all pumped up, at least give me some respect."

Li Zhiyuan nodded and said, "Once you light the lamp and officially go on the river, if we meet again and the conditions are right, I will seriously consider how to finish you off."

Mr. Tian was wide-eyed upon hearing this. They're already at life-and-death threats?

Zhao Yi looked deeply moved.

Sometimes "seriously considering finishing you off" from the mouth of an acknowledged competitor is the highest form of recognition and praise.

Zhao Yi stretched out his arms, wanting to hug Li Zhiyuan.

Li Zhiyuan took half a step back, refusing the somewhat intimate gesture.

Zhao Yi then withdrew his hand, just leaning his face in front of Li Zhiyuan, lips trembling slightly. Even though they were so close, he still used barely audible lip movements.

No one around could hear, but Zhao Yi was sure the young man in front of him had excellent hearing.

Zhao Yi said, "Since you're on the river, it means you are indeed a person. But I've seen through it, hiding a monster inside you. You're sick, aren't you?"

Li Zhiyuan remained silent.

Zhao Yi continued, "I will go back and properly research a method to thoroughly trigger your illness. I don't need to worry about finishing you off; I just need to help strip the human skin off you.

This way, even if you win in the end, you'll end up being the ultimate loser."

Li Zhiyuan's gaze towards Zhao Yi finally showed a hint of interest.

This Young Master Zhao from the Zhao family indeed intrigued him.

Zhao Yi, content, retracted his neck and waved his hand, saying:

"The river is vast, a hundred boats vying for the current. Regardless of how many more times we'll meet in the future, the last meeting will either be at your grave or in front of mine. Don't offer me wine; I'm not into it. Offer me tea, I love Biluochun."

Tan Wenbin immediately pulled out a pen and notebook from his clothes, writing as he recited: "Got it, Young Master Zhao of Jiujiang loves Biluochun, prepare it for his tomb visit in the future."

Seeing this, Zhao Yi immediately turned his head towards Mr. Tian, who was still clinging to his leg, tears streaming down.

Mr. Tian wiped his tears and snot, looking confused.

Zhao Yi sighed helplessly, realizing that before lighting the lamp and going on the river, he had to carefully select and worship his following Dragon King, but whether to take Grandpa Tian or not was still a question.

But unable to lose face, even if his subordinates are inadequate, he must ask himself: "And you, what do you want me to offer when visiting your grave later?"

Li Zhiyuan: "Jianlibao."

Zhao Yi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Alright, you got it."

Then Zhao Yi pulled Mr. Tian up, ready to leave.

Li Zhiyuan spoke, "Hold on."

"Huh?" Zhao Yi turned back, "Surely you're not going to act now, we came here under the open banner of justice together. I'm not afraid of death, just worried that if you kill me now, it won't be good for your river journey."

Li Zhiyuan: "Shizhuo Zhao is gone, but there are still elderly and orphans in the front yard."

Zhao Yi retorted, "So what? Did this family really adopt them to support them through old age and nurture them to adulthood?"

Li Zhiyuan: "People can die unclearly, but matters can't end without a conclusion."

The main issue is that if this matter isn't clarified and resolved, it might lead to more troubles in the future.

Zhao Yi hasn't been on the river, so his perception isn't deep enough.

Of course, even if Zhao Yi went on the river, Li Zhiyuan doubted he'd ever reach his level of depth.

Zhao Yi: "What do you mean?"

Li Zhiyuan: "Have your family invest here to build a retirement home and orphanage, and donate some money to take over this matter."

"Why?"

"Shizhuo Zhao also has the Zhao surname."

"Split off long ago, there are many people with the same surname in the world, all must be responsible for this?"

"Aren't you just visiting family?"

Zhao Yi: "..."

"Are you taking it?"

"Sure, I, Jiujiang Zhao, will take care of it here. Anything else?"

"No, you can go." Li Zhiyuan then looked at Run Sheng: "Array flag."

Run Sheng took the array flag out from the hiking bag.

Seeing the array flag made from rods of metal, Zhao Yi was very dissatisfied: "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you had ready-made array flags in your bag when I spent the afternoon carving wood?"

Before dark, Zhao Yi instructed Grandpa Tian to buy several bundles of firewood from nearby households. While Grandpa Tian chopped wood from far away, Zhao Yi sat in front of Li Zhiyuan carving.

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