Jiang Wang glanced at the untouched tea on the table and inquired, “Aunt, have you eaten? I’ll order a table at the restaurant later.”

“Oh, let me order!” Du Yehou exclaimed, as if granted a pardon. “I know all the restaurants in Maple Leaf City!”

Aunt Song sat down and waved her hand. “No rush. Aunt has something to discuss with you this time.”

Noticing Jiang An’an secretly observing him, Jiang Wang returned a gentle smile. “What is it? Please, speak your mind.”

Aunt Song patted Jiang An’an’s small head. “Would you like to go out for a stroll with these two big brothers? See where your brother lives and cultivates.”

Du Yehou immediately opened his arms to little An’an, his large face wrinkled into a smile resembling an old chrysanthemum. “Come on, Brother Tiger will take you to buy delicious food!”

Ling He consciously added, “Don’t worry, we are brothers who have shared life and death with Jiang Wang. We will definitely take good care of An’an.”

Little An’an was very sensible, although timid and shy. But since Aunt Song had spoken, she tentatively took a few steps towards Ling He.

No matter how one looked at it, Ling He, with his upright features and gentle smile, seemed far more reliable than Du Yehou, whose face was covered in a beard and whose smile was exaggerated and frightening.

Ling He left, feeling a great comfort, holding An’an’s hand. Before leaving, Du Yehou glared at Jiang Wang, his eyes clearly saying, “What’s up with your sister?”

Once they were gone, Jiang Wang’s smile faded. He looked at Aunt Song and asked, “Has Phoenix Creek Town been peaceful lately? Are the family shops doing well?”

“There haven’t been any major problems, but…” Aunt Song hesitated.

Jiang Wang patiently prompted, “Please, just tell me what’s wrong.”

“Ever since your father passed away, the shop’s business has been declining day by day. It’s gotten to the point where your aunt and I can barely make ends meet…” As she spoke, Aunt Song suddenly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

The family’s only remaining shop sold medicinal herbs. Although not large, it had established channels over many years and was well-regarded throughout Phoenix Creek Town. When the family fortune declined in the past, they sold almost all of their property but kept this medicine shop precisely because of its longevity. With this shop in hand, they would not become wealthy, but they certainly would not struggle to survive.

What kind of talent was needed to mismanage a stable, long-term medicine shop so badly in just a few years?

Jiang Wang was no fool. His father had taught him some business matters when he was still alive, hoping that if he did not succeed in cultivation, he could return home and live a stable life.

He knew there must be a problem, but Jiang Wang simply asked, “Is there anything I can help with, Aunt?”

He thought that if she needed money, he could scrape some together. After all, Jiang An’an was his only sister. Even if it was just for her sake, he wanted them to live better.

“I know you’ve always been diligent, Xiao Wang, and you’re sure to have a bright future. But Aunt…” Aunt Song wiped her tears. “Aunt is just a woman, without any special skills. I really can’t hold on any longer…”

She looked at Jiang Wang with tearful eyes. “Could An’an live with you from now on?”

The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang’s eyes vanished.

He never imagined that this woman would not even want her own daughter.

Jiang Wang slowly nodded. “Does this mean Aunt has found a good match?”

Aunt Song lowered her eyes slightly. Only now, in front of her late husband’s eldest son, did she feel a slight shame. It slowly emerged from the deepest part of her heart.

“Marriage and funerals are human nature,” Jiang Wang said, never saying anything harsh. “Does An’an know she’ll be living with me from now on?”

“She doesn’t know yet. Aunt thought I should ask for your opinion first. You know how timid she is and how afraid she is of strangers. Even if I take her with me, she won’t be happy…” Aunt Song’s voice grew lower as she explained.

“I understand,” Jiang Wang interrupted her. “Will I tell her, or will you?”

“You tell her…” Aunt Song said. “I… I have to leave now. The carriage is waiting for me outside the city.”

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment. “Very well. Then I won’t see you off.”

“I will send you money every month.”

“No need. I can afford to raise An’an. Aunt, you… take care of yourself.”

“Okay. Take good care of An’an.” Aunt Song finished and stood up.

She took two steps towards the door, then stopped and turned back, tears in her eyes. “An’an doesn’t like to eat winter melon, she likes eggplant, and she loves sweets… but don’t let her eat too much.”

“She often kicks off her blanket when she sleeps… she… she’s young and doesn’t understand things. Please, as her brother, be understanding.”

“Aunt,” Jiang Wang said, not wanting to say anything more, but seeing Aunt Song’s behavior, he couldn’t help but add, “I don’t know if you remember? My father could have held on for another two years, but he refused treatment, wanting to leave the family property for you. He wanted you to take good care of my young sister…”

Aunt Song was speechless, covering her face and leaving.

Jiang Wang sat blankly for a long time before pouring himself a cup of tea.

Over the years, while seeking the Dao, he had never asked his family for a single tael of silver, no matter how hard things got. It was because he knew his father was bedridden and Aunt Song and An’an were struggling. It was because he knew his father would rather die sooner than burden them. How could he take money from his family?

Even though he was the most undeniable heir to that considerable fortune.

The conversation from that year seemed to echo in his ears:

“Xiao Wang, you have grown up, you are able to take care of yourself, right?”

“Yes, Father.”

That youthful figure seemed to overlap with the present, crossing through the years and converging together.

“And I can take good care of An’an,” Jiang Wang whispered.

…

Ling He and Du Yehou returned after briefly showing Jiang An’an around.

“Huh? Where’s Aunt?” Du Yehou asked without thinking.

Ling He subconsciously wanted to pull An’an closer, but the little hand stubbornly pulled away.

Jiang Wang looked over. The little girl, not even five years old, just stood there silently, gently biting her lip, her large, dark eyes unwavering.

She stood between Ling He and Du Yehou, but seemed isolated in some corner of the vast world.

She did not cry or make a fuss.

Jiang Wang strode over, squatted down, and pulled the small figure into his arms. He pulled her back from that lonely corner of the world, back to the vibrant human world.

“An’an, you will live with your brother from now on. Brother will play with you often, just like we used to. I wonder if you still remember, you were so small back then…”

“Yes, yes, Brother Tiger will play with you often in the future too!” Du Yehou quickly added.

Little An’an glanced at him, turned her gaze away expressionlessly, and then gently buried her head in Jiang Wang’s shoulder.

“Alright,” Jiang Wang said, standing up while still carrying An’an. “It’s not convenient to live in the dormitory with An’an. I need to find a place to live first. We’ll eat together later.”

“It’s best to find a place to live first,” Ling He said, taking out two pieces of silver from his pocket and placing them in Jiang Wang’s hand without explanation. “Take this money.”

After entering the inner sect, Ling He’s life was not as strained as before. The Dao Academy gave out a monthly allowance. But these two pieces of silver were still all he had.

“Ah, yes, yes,” Du Yehou said, inspired. He immediately began to search all over his body, but only managed to find four knife coins, which he sheepishly placed in Jiang Wang’s hand. “I’ve already drunk all of this month’s allowance.”

He then declared solemnly, “Next month, I won’t drink! I’ll save money to buy An’an new clothes!”

Jiang Wang did not refuse and casually put the money in his pocket, then carried Jiang An’an out the door.

Even after they were gone, Du Yehou still leaned on the door and watched. “Little An’an is so cute! Hey Lao Ling, how come I don’t have a sister?”

“Lao Ling?” Du Yehou turned around. Ling He was already meditating on his bed.

A sister with a face full of beard would be terrifying, Ling He thought to himself.

“Just like Lao San, a cultivation fanatic!” Du Yehou muttered, walked to the window, picked up the cup of tea that Jiang Wang had poured earlier, and gulped it down.

“Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!” Du Yehou spat a few times. “Why is this tea so bitter?”

“Serves you right!” Ling He said unhappily.