Publish Time: 2026-07-09 13:32:00

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«Chapter 551: Wind, Fire, Thunder, Lightning, and the Turn of Seasons

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After a night of heavy rain, the early morning became much fresher, and there was even a little coolness. In this fourth month of Huai Xu, a bit of coolness was very rare.

Some small flowers bloomed in the yard. They weren’t there before; maybe Ruyi planted them, or they drifted in with the wind and fell into the small yard.

Lihua got up very early. After getting up, it squatted by the door just like the night before.

Even when Chen Changsheng went to make breakfast, it didn’t react at all.

This was unusual.

Under normal circumstances, Lihua would have been holding its small bowl and waiting by the stove long ago.

While the water was heating up, Chen Changsheng came out to the yard.

He walked up to Lihua and looked at it, saying, “What are you thinking about, squatting here so early in the morning?”

Lihua snapped out of its thoughts and looked at Chen Changsheng, saying, “Lihua is thinking about why it thundered.”

Chen Changsheng paused and smiled helplessly, “No need to think about it that intensely.”

“Last night in a dream, Lihua seemed to understand a little bit.”

Lihua looked very serious, not like it was joking.

Chen Changsheng asked, “So what did Lihua dream about last night?”

“Dreamed about, dreamed about…”

Lihua made a sound and said, “The day it thundered when it woke up.”

“Which day?”

“That day when Mo Yu got hurt.”

Chen Changsheng realized it was probably talking about the day the Spirit Cage was destroyed.

Lihua looked at Chen Changsheng, saying, “Lihua thinks what Good Human Chen said is very true. Thundering is the four seasons, it’s natural, yeah.”

Even though it couldn’t say what “natural” really meant, that didn’t stop it from getting the idea.

“But there should also be times when it’s not the seasons, or not natural.”

“Just like that thunder that day.”

Lihua was now carefully remembering what happened that day and what it saw in that vision.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng did not bother Lihua anymore, saying, “Well, Lihua, do your best. I won’t disturb you.”

“Okay~”

Lihua agreed and went back to zoning out.

…

In the morning, when Ruyi saw the smoke rising from Uncle Chen’s yard, she knew it was meal time.

When she came over, her hair was still messy and she hadn’t washed her face, she was so casual.

Chen Changsheng naturally scolded her about it again.

Ruyi wouldn’t admit defeat, saying, “I can wash after eating, it’s still the same…”

Even though she was stubborn, she still went back to her yard to wash her face and comb her hair.

This surprised Chen Changsheng a little, saying, “I thought Ruyi always liked to argue.”

Ruyi gave a slight snort, saying, “Can’t I be good for once?”

Chen Changsheng smiled and nodded, “Alright, alright, alright.”

All the food was brought to the table.

Ruyi turned and looked toward the roof, calling out, “Lihua, come eat your meal!”

Lihua looked over and said, “Lihua isn’t eating. Lihua is thinking.”

After that, it zoned out again.

Ruyi blinked and looked at Uncle Chen, “What’s up with Lihua?”

“It’s thinking about why it thunders,” said Chen Changsheng.

Ruyi made a sound, saying, “Honestly, last night’s thunder was a bit scary; it even woke me up.”

“Eat your veggies.”

Everything was quiet that morning. After finishing breakfast peacefully, Ruyi headed out to the Embroidery Workshop. Today was as busy as yesterday, with no free time to spare.

After Ruyi left, Chen Changsheng looked around to see what the house needed.

He needed to buy more candles; also, the firewood was running low. Plus, the water in the jar was all used up; he needed to fetch fresh water.

So Chen Changsheng got busy, like a Mortal would.

Chopping wood, carrying water, buying groceries…

He worked all morning like that.

Because it rained yesterday, the sky stayed dark and gloomy.

“It’s going to rain again…” Chen Changsheng muttered to himself.

He guessed it would be around noon.

But likely not as heavy as last night.

After he finished his work, he rested on the bench in the yard.

When noon came, sure enough, raindrops began to fall.

With no choice, he retreated to the Main Hall.

“Pattering…”

The sound of the rain was soft and gentle.

In a sleepy state, he heard some low rumbles of thunder, but only faint ones.

“Boom…”

The thunder was very soft and couldn’t scare anyone.

Chen Changsheng let out a breath, watching the rain drip from the roof tiles.

But suddenly, he heard a sound.

“Hmm…”

Chen Changsheng turned and looked at Lihua standing by the door.

Lihua looked at Chen Changsheng, saying, “Good Human Chen…”

“What?”

“Lihua seems to get it now.”

“Get what? Why it thunders?”

“Yeah.”

Lihua seemed not to know how to explain. It then turned its gaze to a small flower in the yard.

“Good Human Chen, look at that flower over there.”

Chen Changsheng followed its look.

Lihua made faces at the flower, as if trying to use some technique.

Chen Changsheng just gazed, but saw no reaction for a long time.

The Lihua finally lost heart, sighing, “Why doesn’t it work…”

Chen Changsheng blinked. “What effect was Lihua trying to achieve?”

The Lihua said, “Well… like thunder arriving when called, just like rain.”

“To serve you?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Chen Changsheng looked at the little flower, then back at Lihua.

“Does Lihua want to try again?”

“Okay~”

The Lihua focused, its gaze fixed on the flower.

Just as intense as before, straining with a scrunched face.

Suddenly, Chen Changsheng’s brow moved. Within the rain, he faintly sensed some Thunder Qi being stirred.

He felt dazed for a moment, looking at Lihua.

“Whew…”

Looking grim, Lihua said, “Still not working. Lihua needs to think again.”

Chen Changsheng stood up. He took a few steps forward, watching the scattered wisp of Thunder Qi dispersing back into the rain.

He remained dazed.

Lihua had misunderstood him, but it led to something unexpected.

Seeing Chen Changsheng’s strange stare, the cat blinked. “Why keep looking at Lihua?”

Snapping back, Chen Changsheng said, “It’s nothing…”

He sat back down, deep in thought.

How could Lihua wield the Thunder Technique?

This defied reason.

Evil Qi clung to Lihua. Though it had faded over the years, faint traces still remained.

How could something tainted by Evil Qi possibly use the Thunder Technique?

Chen Changsheng asked, “Did Lihua ever learn the Thunder Technique?”

The cat blinked. “What Thunder Technique?”

It didn’t even know the name.

Chen Changsheng knew asking was pointless. Standing, he walked over to Lihua.

“Please extend your paw, Lihua.”

The cat blinked, then lifted a paw.

Chen Changsheng grasped it firmly. “Now try again.”

“Try… again?”

Lihua mumbled, “But Lihua is a little tired.”

“Consider it one last attempt.”

“Alright…”

Lihua’s focus returned to the little flower in the courtyard.

Yet, to Chen Changsheng’s surprise, even holding Lihua’s paw and lending it strength, the Thunder Technique still wouldn’t manifest.

During the effort though, the Thunder Qi in the yard had indeed stirred.

“Whew…”

Lihua gasped heavily, weary. “Still nothing.”

Chen Changsheng stood stunned, finally seeing the reason.

This wasn’t the Thunder Technique that harnessed the Power of Heaven and Earth. So lending power wouldn’t help Lihua perform it – he’d been looking the wrong way.

The quivering Thunder Qi in the courtyard? That was the favor of the Four Seasons Thunder Qi!

Meaning, Lihua truly understood why thunder happened in nature’s seasons.

Chen Changsheng’s mouth opened slightly. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if Lihua was genuinely clever… or just fortunate.

This really caught him off guard.

«Chapter 551: Wind, Fire, Thunder, Lightning, and the Turn of Seasons

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