Chapter 44 (1) of The Grave of the Witch: Lin Family Village

  On the night of September 1st, Lin Xingbai began to study how to absorb the Tiger Head Dragon. The method used by the demon clan to absorb the Tiger Head Dragon was very special. All demons had an internal elixir, also known as a demon elixir, which humans and witches did not have.

  This inner elixir is the result of the demon clan's day and night cultivation, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to form.

  Therefore, the inner elixir of the demon clan is exceptionally unique, and it can almost completely merge with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The method used by the demon clan to absorb the Tiger-Headed Dragon is to utilize the resonance between the inner elixir and the Tiger-Headed Dragon.

  When both pulse, it can be absorbed.

  The human and witch tribes lack the inner elixir, so they cannot absorb it. And it's not possible to simulate the demon tribe's inner elixir, after all, each tribe has its own skills. Lin Xingbai guessed left and right, but in the end, he couldn't find a way, and didn't know what method the human and witch tribes used to absorb it in the ancient era of Honghuang.

  It's normal for Lin Xingbai to be unable to think of it all at once.

  Like the era of chaos, when the demon tribe began to absorb with internal elixir, for a time, neither the human tribe nor the witch tribe could think of it. Until seven years later, there was a great witch who had the gift of heaven and used various means to come up with a solution to solve this problem.

  Lin Xingbai now has quite a lot of experience with the ancient great witchcraft, so it's not impossible that he won't need seven years, but even though he is standing on the shoulders of his predecessors, it still takes some time. By the time the sky was about to brighten up, Lin Xingbai had yet to figure it out.

  No choice, take a rest first, prepare tomorrow's lesson plan.

  The second class in the morning was Lin Xingbai's class, holding the lesson plan and walking into Class C of Grade One. This is the class taught by Lin Xingbai. Upon entering, some students looked familiar, while others had not been taught before. The three people who were most familiar were Lei Zhen, Chu Yuqing, and Qu Feiyan.

  Cai Yiyang signed up, but didn't come to school. The current Cai Yiyang is said to have debuted in the entertainment industry. Considered an idol with real talent as a female singer, looking forward to the day she becomes a superstar.

  "Hello everyone, I am your classical Chinese teacher, my surname is Lin and my name is Xingbai. You can call me Teacher Lin, or Mr. Lin if you prefer." Lin Xingbai wrote his name on the blackboard.

  Lin Xingbai's brush calligraphy is quite good, with small seal script and small regular script all written in a stylish manner. Now this chalk writing, Lin Xingbai also writes quite elegantly.

  Having written his name and character, Lin Xingbai stood on the podium: "Alright, among you, there are many who were originally my students since junior high. There are also new students who have never been taught by me before. Anyway, now all of you are my students."

  "I'm a teacher during class, and a friend to everyone after class. If you need to discuss anything, feel free to find me." Lin Xingbai smiled, exuding a refined elegance that made many of the female students in the audience think to themselves, "This Teacher Lin is quite handsome, and his smile is really charming."

  But he didn't know that this Mr. Lin, with his gentle and elegant demeanor, and his faint smile, was feared by countless people in the dark world.

  "Alright, let's get to know each other first. Those who have reported their names, please come up to the podium and give a brief self-introduction. The introduction can be long or short, but it's best not to exceed three minutes. Exceeding three minutes would take up others' time and isn't very good either." Lin Xingbai sat calmly on one side, flipping through his student handbook.

  "Really."

  Lin Xingbai originally thought that Lei Zhen was only good at classical Chinese, but now that he's holding the student handbook, it turns out that Lei Zhen is actually first in all subjects. Lei Zhen, you're not only a powerful leader in the dark world, but also occupy the top spot here, with almost all perfect scores, isn't that just too awesome?

  Qiaomei Di Lei walked onto the stage and asked with a mysterious tone, "Have you found the method to absorb the energy of the Tiger Head Bone Demon?"

  Lin Xingbai spread his hands and replied with a voice transmission: "Not yet, it's not that fast."

  Lei Zhen arrived and had already finished a simple self-introduction while secretly communicating with Lin Xingbai.

  The second one is not Chu Yuqing, but a girl named Ye Xunyue. This girl named Ye Xunyue has extremely long legs. When she stands up, she's almost 1.7 meters tall. She's truly a girl with exceptionally long legs. As soon as Ye Xunyue stood out, the eyes of almost all the boys in the class were fixed on her legs.

  The third is Chu Yuqing.

  When it came to the fourth place, Lin Xingbai was slightly stunned. The girl in the fourth place was named Tong Ling'er. This Tong Ling'er had a very full and plump chest, while her face was completely pure and innocent, looking much younger than her actual age of fifteen. In some people's eyes, they would definitely exclaim: "Tongyan **", but Lin Xingbai didn't pay too much attention to it.

  Lin Xingbai's heart moved slightly at this time, of course, this slight movement in his heart had nothing to do with the so-called "youthful appearance", but rather he thought of another very important matter. The rest of this class doesn't need to be said, because generally the first lesson of a new semester won't involve actual teaching, let alone the first lesson for high school freshmen and their new teacher together.

  After this lesson, Lin Xingbai rushed straight to the data room to check on Tong Ling'er's information.

  Tong Ling'er, female, 15 years old, birthplace: Anxi Town, Anyuan City, father: Zhang Aiguo, mother: Tong Cai Xiang.

  This matter must

  It's really dragging on, after all, it dragged back to 52 years ago. 52 years ago, when Lin Xingbai was still hanging out in that village, he saw Tongxiu Yu, who looked quite beautiful and white, before falling into the Great Witch's Tomb. At that time, he thought of this one, thinking that at that time, no one asked to be a matchmaker, and took Tongxiu Yu back home.

  At that time, Lin Xingbai was very familiar with Tong Xiuyu, and he remembered that this branch of the Tong family had a strange custom: all the daughters born in this branch would take their mother's surname. He also recalled that Tong Xiuyu once said with a smile: "My generation is 'Xiu', the next generation is 'Cai', and the one after that is 'Ling'. These are all written down in our Tong family genealogy."

  "Any woman who wants to marry into our Tóng family must follow these rules." Apparently, the tradition of children taking their father's surname has been a long-standing custom in China for thousands of years. As a result, when Tóng Xiùyù was quite beautiful, few men dared to marry her, fearing they would be beaten to death by their elders.

  Lin Xingbai was alone at that time and had this intention, but accidentally fell into the tomb of Daxian and spent 52 years there.

  It seems now that Tong Ling'er is actually Tong Xiu Yu's branch.

  Lin Xingbai didn't know why, but after hearing Tong Ling'er's name just now, he involuntarily went to look for some information.

  At this time, Lin Xingbai's mood was also difficult to describe. It was extremely extreme, and the 52 years of light and shadow passed like flowing water. To say that in the early days, Lin Xingbai had already found out that his original small village was now in Anxi City, Andong District.

  However, Lin Xingbai has been afraid to go back to his hometown in Andong District for 52 years.

  The more I approach my hometown, the more timid I become.

  Fifty-two years have passed, and the world has changed greatly, but I remain unchanged, still looking like I did fifty-two years ago. It's only natural to feel a little nervous about returning home.

  Let's go to Andong District, and take a look at the place where I grew up 52 years ago, what it has become. Lin Xingbai was a decisive person, once he made a decision, he wouldn't hesitate anymore, so he went to ask for leave from the head of his department in high school.

  School has just started. There's nothing going on. Wang Renru, the head of the first year department, naturally agreed.

  An Dong District Linjia Village, this is the small village where Lin Xingbai was born and grew up. Now it has been merged into Anyuan City, but it's an urban village. In recent years, urban villages, whether selling land or renting houses, residents are quite wealthy.

  Lin Xingbai looked at the high-rise buildings that rose from the ground, but found that he no longer recognized Linjia Village. The tremendous changes of fifty-two years had transformed it into a completely unrecognizable place. Lin Xingbai let out a long sigh.

  However, Lin Xingbai still remembered that there was a Lin family ancestral hall in Linjia Village back then. No matter how it had been rebuilt, as long as the old people of Linjia Village were still around, this Lin family ancestral hall should not have changed much. Thinking so, Lin Xingbai followed the route in his memory to look for the Lin family ancestral hall.

  As expected, Lin's ancestral hall still stands on the ground as it was 52 years ago.

  Yes, everything remains unchanged. In the Lin family ancestral hall, a horizontal inscribed board with four golden characters "Lin Family Ancestral Hall" is hung above the hall. This board, if I remember correctly, was written by a Confucian scholar when the hall was first built.

  The tall hall, with some red lacquer peeling off the carvings, still has a flagpole stone in front of the ancestral temple, indicating that the Lin family's clansmen had achieved honors. The person who achieved honors was Lin Xingbai's grandfather's generation, and it is said that they were very glorious for a while.

  Going further in, this is the place where Linjia Village worships and sacrifices to its ancestors. The ancestral tablets are lined up one by one, really tracing back to their origins, and surprisingly, they can be traced all the way back to the Song Dynasty. This records the long history of Linjia Village.

  Yes, except for being more dilapidated and having more red paint peeled off, everything is the same as it was fifty-two years ago.

  Lin Xingbai stood stupidly in the middle of the Lin family ancestral hall, remembering that he was quite mischievous when he was young. The Lin family ancestral hall did not allow children to enter, but he had sneaked inside many times before. If his father had caught him at the time, he would have been beaten dozens of times.

  Still remember, every time when there is a wedding, funeral, birthday or celebration in the village, people will use this temple, and then they can run in to play.

  Still remember, still remember, it's truly a 52-year memory like flowing water.

  Lin Xingbai looked back and quickly found his grandfather's ancestral tablet, with the name Jian and courtesy name Faxing. He also found his father's, with the name Jing and courtesy name Shuye. However, after passing by his father's tablet, he unexpectedly found another one.

  The name written on that tombstone is Lin Xingbai.

  Lin Xingbai let out a bitter laugh, having fallen into the Great Witch's tomb for 52 years. He hadn't expected that at the time, the people of Linjia Village had even set up a memorial tablet for him. However, as for this branch of his family, it was likely that there would be no further record of them in the ancestral genealogy.

  Lin Xingbai stood like this in the middle of the Lin family ancestral hall, standing stupidly.

  The sea has become mulberry fields, but I remain unchanged.

  Originally, a person's life was within a hundred years, born, old, sick, and dead. However, I unintentionally fell into the Great Witch's tomb and unexpectedly obtained such a long life. Fortunately, this world still has the Cultivation Realm, where there are monsters like myself with hundreds or even thousands of years of life; otherwise, I would be extremely lonely.

  Lin Xing Bai paced back and forth

  The child is right here in the Lin family ancestral hall.

  This is the only unchanged building in Linjia Village from years ago. In other places, no trace of the past can be found anymore.

  Just as Lin Xingbai was pacing in the Lin family ancestral hall, lost in his own thoughts, he didn't notice that a man over sixty years old was staring at him strangely. This old man was originally the gatekeeper of the ancestral hall and had seen Lin Xingbai rush in. He should have stopped him, but after seeing Lin Xingbai's face, he didn't say a word and didn't stop him. He just kept looking at Lin Xingbai like that.

  This old man is called Lin Er Gou, 68 years old, originally also a villager of Linjia Village. Lin Er Gou couldn't help it and finally came over: "Excuse me, did your ancestors have someone named Lin Xingbai?"

  Lin Xingbai was taken aback for a moment, and for a while he didn't know how to respond.

  Lin Er Gou has already started saying: "It seems that's the case. You and Lin Ge look alike when you were young, I and Lin Ge used to be very good brothers."

  "What's your name?"

  "My surname is Lin, and I'm called Er Gou. Right, don't laugh, don't look at me being called Er Gou, I'm of your grandfather's generation." Lin Er Gou said immediately.

  Looking around and seeing no one, Lin Xingbai slapped Lin Erdou's head: "Erdou, you shouldn't speak to your elder brother like that." They were all from Linjia Village. There was some familial relationship between them. Lin Erdou was actually Lin Xingbai's younger paternal cousin.

  Lin Erdou was stunned at the time.

  "Don't stay here, Second Dog. I am Lin Xingbai, also your Brother Lin."

  Anyway, since there's no one else in the Lin family ancestral hall now, Lin Xingbai told Lin Erdou about what happened roughly. Of course, falling into the Da Wu tomb was changed to being sealed in ice for 52 years, this reason is easier to explain, after all, there are also people who come out after being sealed in ice nowadays.

  Lin Xingbai said some interesting things about his childhood, and Lin Erdou couldn't help but disbelieve him. As they talked, Lin Erdou finally believed: "So it was really you, Brother Lin! Your disguise is so good that even your memorial tablet has been prepared."

  "Right, among those who survived back then and are still alive today, there's also Zhang Tie Niu. Let's call him over and have a drink together, us old folks who are still kicking."

  Zhang Tienniu, however, is not surnamed Lin. Although he grew up in Linjia Village since childhood, like Tong Xiuyu, he also married a daughter of the Lin family. However, after 52 years have passed, there are only a few old people left from that time.

  Lin Erdou's house is a government-subsidized one, and Lin Erdou also has sons and daughters. However, the children have all gone to Beijing to pursue their careers, so Lin Erdou is also a solitary person living alone in such a large house, with no one else around, making his words sound particularly clear-cut.

  When Zhang Tie Niu arrived after receiving the phone call, he first shouted: "What's up, Er Gou? You're so idle that you have nothing better to do and come to drink with me again?"

  "Get out of here! You're iron-willed. If you don't take advantage of being alive to drink, I'm afraid the only place left to drink will be underground." Lin Er Gou retorted.

  Zhang Tieniu and Lin Erdou had known each other for sixty or seventy years, and there was nothing to pretend about. Everything was casual, but when he saw Lin Xingbai, he couldn't help but pause: "This person looks like Lin Ge back in the day, isn't he Lin Ge's grandson?"

  Lin Erdou burst out laughing and then told Zhang Tiegu everything. After Lin Xingbai shared some of Zhang Tiegu's embarrassing stories from back in the day, Zhang Tiegu had no choice but to believe him - these were things that only friends who played together back then would know about.

  Only three of our old friends from those years are still alive now.

  It was these three, Lin Xingbai, Zhang Tieniu and Lin Er'gou, sitting together drinking wine, while drinking, they talked about some interesting things from fifty or sixty years ago, of course, also talking about things that happened after Lin Xingbai went missing.

  "Lin Ge, you disappeared early that year, just in time to avoid the great famine from 1960 to 1963. Those years, there was really nothing to eat. We were so hungry back then, we would have eaten tree bark if we could." Zhang Tie Niu said.

  They went on talking and laughing together, recalling many interesting things from years ago.

  "Right, Lin Ge, at such a young age now, you really have something to live for, and you should live it up!"

  "Of course." Lin Xingbai replied.

  "What is Lin Ge doing now?"

  "When the teacher." Lin Xingbai drank the kaoliang, several old brothers gathered together, and naturally they wouldn't drink beer, but instead drank the kaoliang that they had been drinking for over 50 years. Drinking the kaoliang was like going back to the year '52.

  "Teacher, it's also a fulfillment of Mr. Lin's long-held wish from back then, he had always wanted you to be his private tutor." Both Zhang Tie Niu and Lin Er Gou held this private tutor in high esteem, especially when it came to Lin Jing, Lin Xing Bai's father.

  "Work hard, this is Mr.'s lifelong wish."

  "It's a reunion, no need to say more." Lin Xingbai replied, yes, this was his father's wish back then, and he also found happiness in being a teacher.

  The teacher's role is to impart the way, teach skills, and resolve doubts.