Cui Di is Chen Xiyuan’s natal treasure.

She enters the domain with sound, and this flute provides a significant boost to her.

Most importantly, the entire Longwang Chen family can currently only gather enough materials to create this one.

Despite it being such an irreplaceable treasure for herself and her family, Miss Chen can still offer it without hesitation as a gift.

The initial gift is small, but the main part is an apology gift.

Li Zhuiyuan knows that Chen Xiyuan is not retreating to advance.

She knows the relationship between A-Li and himself, and she also knows how… poor he is.

To put it inappropriately, using this to retreat in order to advance is like tempting a hungry dog with a meat bun.

She genuinely wants to give it, and she is genuinely willing to.

Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head and continued eating.

This is a gift from someone else to A-Li, so he is not in a convenient position to express an opinion. However, his current noncommittal attitude is actually a form of expressing an opinion.

A-Li can understand.

The girl put down her chopsticks and looked at the Cui Di placed in front of her.

She reached out her hand and placed it on the Cui Di, first gently touching it, then lightly tapping it with her fingertips.

A clear and melodious tune emanated from the flute, graceful and lingering.

A-Li is musically inclined.

When Grandma Liu used to live with A-Li in the school’s faculty dormitory, A-Li’s study contained a Guqin and a Guzheng, which she had played for the young man.

After returning to her great-grandfather’s house, A-Li stopped playing, because the morning birds and the cicada songs at night in the countryside were naturally unadorned heavenly music.

Chen Xiyuan’s smile grew brighter.

As an expert, she could infer the whole from a part.

Chen Xiyuan: “Little sister truly lives up to being the old madam’s granddaughter; her musical talent is so high!”

Li Zhuiyuan’s chewing paused, then continued.

A-Li’s fingertips left the Cui Di, and her gaze turned to Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan, thinking the gift had been successfully given, picked up her chopsticks, preparing to focus on feeding the flock of pigeons in her stomach.

Who knew that just as she picked up a piece of chicken, the Cui Di was held by a soft, slender hand and placed in front of her.

Chen Xiyuan was stunned.

A-Li lowered her head and continued eating.

Chen Xiyuan: “Little sister, this is the best thing elder sister has at hand right now.”

Li Zhuiyuan said, “It’s already been said that this was a misunderstanding, so you don’t need to take it to heart.”

Chen Xiyuan: “But…”

Li Zhuiyuan: “A-Li not accepting it means A-Li truly doesn’t blame you.”

Chen Xiyuan’s lips slightly pursed, showing a distressed expression at not having given the gift.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Eat. Since you’re already here and awake, help me with some work for the next few days.”

Chen Xiyuan immediately asked eagerly, “Is the work heavy? I don’t want light work!”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Currently there are three tasks. First, help me deal with an evil entity; second, help me rescue two families from distress; third, there’s a small Daoist temple of mine in the rice field behind the house, and I plan to use your domain to help me repair it.”

Chen Xiyuan glanced behind the house and said, “I can repair it tonight.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Repairs require materials, which I don’t have at hand right now.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Then let’s transport them from my place, even though it’s a bit far.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Your place might not have the construction materials needed for the repairs. So, we have to do the second task first before we can do the third.”

Chen Xiyuan pondered why the second task would be related to the third.

“Uh, what kind of distress are those two families deeply involved in?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “You only need to know that they are in deep trouble. As for how the trouble started, there’s no need to ask.”

Chen Xiyuan tilted her head, a smirk on her lips, and looked sideways at the young man sitting across from her.

She understood.

Chen Xiyuan: “You’re right, heroes of the martial world are naturally meant to help each other, perform acts of righteousness, and hide their merits and fame.”

Li Zhuiyuan sighed inwardly. Perhaps it was due to several days of heavy drinking, but Miss Chen finally seemed to regain her humanity at this moment.

Relieved of her psychological burden, Miss Chen began to concentrate on eating.

The prerequisite for controlling metabolism is prior storage in the body. She needed to replenish herself now. Thus, Miss Chen once again performed a refined gluttony in front of Li Zhuiyuan.

A-Li had already portioned out her meal, and Li Zhuiyuan didn’t eat much. Not long after the two finished eating and put down their chopsticks, Chen Xiyuan single-handedly polished off all the remaining dishes on the table.

Then, she bit on her chopsticks, blinked her eyes, and looked at the young man:

“Uh… is there more?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “No more dishes, but there are steamed buns.”

Chen Xiyuan nodded: “Yes, yes!”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Wait a moment, I’ll go heat them for you.”

Chen Xiyuan: “I’ll do it, I’m quick at making fire!”

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t refuse.

Because Chen Xiyuan had “opened her heart” to Run Sheng and the other two in Luoyang, Aunt Liu had steamed a “mountain of buns” for them in advance, which ultimately benefited the “master” of the three.

Li Zhuiyuan first ladled water into the pot, then put on the steamer, arranged the cold steamed buns. One steamer was definitely not enough, so he had to add more.

Chen Xiyuan sat behind the stove to start the fire, then stuffed a lot of firewood into the firebox.

Immediately afterward, she aimed one end of the Cui Di towards the stove and blew into the other end.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

In an instant, the fire roared incredibly fiercely; even pulling the bellows until it smoked couldn’t achieve such an effect.

The steamed buns quickly heated up, and Chen Xiyuan took them out.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a plate, then thought better of it and put it down, instead picking up a large sea bowl usually used for soup, filled it with a lot of pickles, and even carried a thermos bottle when he walked out of the kitchen.

Under the moonlight, Chen Xiyuan began to eat steamed buns.

In the end, not a single steamed bun was left, only a slight lingering enjoyment after licking her lips.

Chen Xiyuan: “I’m full.”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at A-Li and said, “I’ll take you to Grandma Liu’s house to rest.”

A-Li nodded and stood up.

Chen Xiyuan pointed to the east room: “Isn’t that empty?”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan quickly waved her hand: “I’ll just find a place to make do for the night. Let little sister sleep in the bed.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “There’s no need to suffer needlessly. Besides, you’re a guest.”

Grandpa and Grandma Chen were old acquaintances of his own grandmother. Although the family’s conditions were simple, the courtesy due to old acquaintances’ juniors should be extended.

Chen Xiyuan: “Alright.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Grandma left two sets of clothes for you to change into. You can take a shower and put them on.”

Chen Xiyuan: “I’ll escort you there, and then I’ll wash up when I get back.”

Li Zhuiyuan said no more, taking A-Li’s hand and walking down the dam.

There were no streetlights in the village, but the feeling of the village at night was much brighter than in the city.

The cool light of the moon halo cast upon the ground. Chen Xiyuan walked behind, watching the young man and girl holding hands in front. Unconsciously, she reached into her pocket again, took out the melon seeds.

She cracked them and spit them out.

The village road was flanked by fields, with no need for such formalities.

Unfortunately, before reaching their destination, the melon seeds in her pocket were all gone.

Chen Xiyuan decided that she had to find the elder sister who left her the melon seeds tomorrow morning and ask for more.

The door to the first floor of Cui Cui’s house was already locked.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up at the balcony and asked A-Li, “How about we just go up?”

A-Li nodded.

Li Zhuiyuan then looked at Chen Xiyuan: “Thank you for your trouble. Please take A-Li up to the bedroom on the second floor.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Okay.”

Miss Chen wanted to reach out and grab A-Li’s shoulder, but she stopped halfway.

At this moment, A-Li proactively extended her hand and clasped it.

Some people are truly hard to dislike.

In fact, if it had been any other person who dared to hide and approach A-Li while she was bathing, A-Li would have reacted immediately.

But A-Li only lashed out at Chen Xiyuan after Chen Xiyuan brazenly referred to Xiao Yuan as a live-in son-in-law.

Most people and objects in the world appear as terrifying sights to A-Li, except for a select few.

When she saw Chen Xiyuan being dragged out by Li Zhuiyuan under the peach blossom forest, there was one more, because in A-Li’s eyes, Chen Xiyuan was her true self.

Chen Xiyuan held A-Li’s hand, a heartfelt smile on her face.

She had always wanted a younger brother, and Li Zhuiyuan’s appearance fulfilled that need, but this little brother, as cute as he was, was also formidable.

As for A-Li, this little sister, she felt joy the moment she first saw her.

Chen Xiyuan soared into the air, and to ensure A-Li wasn’t jostled, she specifically opened her domain.

After landing on the balcony, she again used her domain to slide open the latch connecting the room to the balcony. A-Li released her hand and walked in.

On the bed in the room, Cui Cui was already asleep.

There were tear stains at the corners of her eyes.

Grandma Liu and the others still slept at their own home tonight, but Sister A-Li hadn’t come. Although Grandma Liu had explained, Cui Cui, lying in bed, couldn’t help but overthink.

She had always been strong and cheerful since she was a child, but her heart was also very sensitive.

A-Li reached out and picked up the thin quilt that Cui Cui had kicked off, folded it neatly, and placed it over Cui Cui’s stomach.

Then, she got into bed, lay flat on the inner side, folded her hands over her abdomen, and closed her eyes.

As Chen Xiyuan was about to jump down from the balcony, she heard several old women still chatting in the next room.

Grandma Hua, who lived alone, came over to squeeze in the next day, and Wang Lian also came today.

At this moment, Wang Lian was being teased by Liu Jinxia for leaving her old man alone in an empty room.

Yao Shan had also gradually relaxed after spending a few days with her peers. Although she still couldn’t speak the Nantong dialect, she could roughly understand it and join their conversations.

Actually, the master-servant hierarchy of the past had long faded with the passage of time. However, the eldest miss’s kindness to her was profound. At home, whenever she saw her two studious and well-behaved grandsons, she would internally lament that without the eldest miss, her son, who had died young with a thin fate, would not have achieved what he had today.

In her eyes, the greatest respect and gratitude were expressed in a master-servant manner, but since the eldest miss preferred a sisterly relationship, she was willing to adapt.

Liu Yumei also changed from sleeping alone in bed to sleeping below.

Most ordinary people have experienced sleeping with siblings in their childhood, but Liu Yumei had not. Born into the Dragon King’s family, they were siblings, but also competitors.

The title of “Eldest Miss Liu” was like Zhao Yi’s title of “Eldest Young Master” in the Jiujiang Zhao family back then—it didn’t mean the oldest among her peers, but rather someone who could overpower her peers with talent and ability.

She turned her head and glanced out the window.

No matter how profound Chen Xiyuan’s domain was, it couldn’t block the perception of the Old Madam Liu.

Liu Yumei knew that A-Li’s matter had been resolved as she expected.

With Xiao Yuan by her side, Liu Yumei genuinely felt that not only was her life becoming more effortless, but she was also growing younger.

Chen Xiyuan jumped downstairs and followed Li Zhuiyuan out of Cui Cui’s courtyard.

The young man first went to the village’s old carpenter’s house. The carpenter’s feast hadn’t ended yet; a group of old men were still drinking, having just finished discussing international politics and moved on to family and children topics.

Great-grandfather was boasting excitedly, after all, his precious great-grandson was the provincial top scholar, naturally occupying the highest position in this topic’s hierarchy.

Every old man at the table had school-aged grandchildren, and they were all humbly asking Li Sanjiang for his parenting wisdom.

Li Sanjiang had no idea how to teach children to study. He was busy helping his great-grandson find connections to get into a better town elementary school, only for his great-grandson to come back and say he had directly started senior high school.

At that time, he thought he had met a swindler and personally took Li Weihan and Cui Guiying to the principal’s office to confirm it.

However, this did not stump Li Sanjiang. He first heavily put down his wine bowl, raised a finger, and said to the old men at the table:

“To make your kids study well, first and foremost, you must let them eat more meat!”

The carpenter’s family had set up mats and pillows by the kitchen table, preparing for the old men to rest there after drinking until late at night.

Li Zhuiyuan glanced inside, then, not wanting to disturb his great-grandfather’s fun, he walked out.

Walking along the village road with Chen Xiyuan, the young man pointed to the bearded man’s house in the distance and said:

“There’s a peach forest there, but the one living under the peach forest and who played music with you that day isn’t our old madam either.”

Chen Xiyuan’s eyes immediately widened, and she asked, “Who is that?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “You can think of him as a powerful evil entity.”

Chen Xiyuan instantly gripped the Cui Di tightly in her hand.

Li Zhuiyuan added, “A powerful evil entity that could slap the current you to death with one palm.”

Chen Xiyuan’s hand, gripping the flute, was still firm.

Li Zhuiyuan: “He’s a good person, a figure from the Wei and Jin dynasties. He had problems with his cultivation secret technique and feared poisoning the common people, so he chose to self-suppress. Moreover, he should have a past connection with your family ancestors. If I’m not mistaken, the fact that you could play a duet with him that day was partly because you mistook him for our old madam, and partly because he misunderstood your true intentions.”

Chen Xiyuan’s hand relaxed.

“That’s great. Someone who loves music can’t be all bad.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “If you wish, you can continue to go to the peach forest, but be mindful of your manners. He has a bit of a temper.

Um, talk less. When your mouth is idle, just play the flute.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Oh.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Among the people drinking earlier was my great-grandfather. You can call him Grandpa Li and say you’re my old madam’s grand-niece.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Mm.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “In front of my great-grandfather, you need to be restrained. Don’t reveal anything unusual about yourself to him. It’s best to act like an ordinary person.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Oh?”

Li Zhuiyuan glanced at her.

Chen Xiyuan: “Oh!”

After returning home, Chen Xiyuan entered the east room, and Li Zhuiyuan went upstairs to his own room.

The next morning, after getting up and washing, Li Zhuiyuan went to Cui Cui’s house to pick up A-Li as usual.

Only this time, when he arrived, A-Li hadn’t started getting ready yet.

A-Li only opened her eyes and got out of bed after Cui Cui woke up and realized there was someone else beside her.

Throughout the morning, Cui Cui had a smile on her face.

After Yao Shan helped A-Li get ready, she beckoned to Cui Cui, indicating she would help her get ready too.

Midway, while combing Cui Cui’s hair, the comb in her hand broke.

Yao Shan was puzzled but also felt fear.

Liu Yumei, sitting nearby, said, “Use my comb.”

Yao Shan breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the eldest miss’s comb, and finished styling the little girl.

She then placed one of her hairpins in Cui Cui’s bun.

Liu Jinxia saw it and said, “How can that be.”

Yao Shan: “I carved it myself, it’s not worth much.”

The clothes were already made. Yao Shan took them out and had them try them on one by one.

The old sisters found it magical. They had only seen Yao Shan knitting clothes while playing cards, and never saw her use a sewing machine, yet each round, they could see the clothes in her hands “grow” a section.

Regardless of whether they fit perfectly, just the feel of the fabric was an experience they had never had before.

Grandma Hua: “Tsk tsk tsk, with this skill, wouldn’t opening a tailor shop make a fortune?”

Liu Jinxia: “What kind of material is this? How expensive must it be?”

Wang Lian: “I really can’t bear to wear it.”

Grandma Hua: “If you don’t wear it, are you going to save it for when you’re dead?”

Wang Lian: “Isn’t that good?”

Grandma Hua: “You’re right.”

Liu Jinxia had experience in this area and said, “After a person is gone, their size changes, so it won’t fit well.”

Early in the morning, seeing the conversation veering towards the morbid, Liu Yumei somewhat helplessly put down her teacup and said:

“Alright, let Shan’er make each of you another set of burial clothes. I guarantee you’ll look beautiful when you go.”

Everyone laughed.

After bringing A-Li back, Li Zhuiyuan didn’t let A-Li directly go to the workbench. Both of them put down their work and sat on the wicker chairs on the terrace, playing chess.

Though time was pressing, for the boy and girl, deliberate relaxation and unwinding were essential.

The east room door opened, and Chen Xiyuan walked out, looking refreshed.

Despite being drunk for three days, it didn’t affect her good night’s sleep and appetite the previous night.

As she stretched, Chen Xiyuan saw the little brother and little sister on the terrace, playing chess with the blue sky as their board.

Miss Chen watched as she walked from the east end of the dam to the west end, as if performing a salute.

She walked to the kitchen doorway and leaned gently against Aunt Liu, who was standing there cracking melon seeds.

“Sister, spare me some more melon seeds.”

Aunt Liu grabbed a handful of melon seeds from her pocket and put them into Chen Xiyuan’s hand.

The two leaned against each other, their heads facing the same direction and angle. Gradually, even the rhythm of cracking melon seeds became consistent.

Aunt Liu: “What do you want for breakfast? Pfft.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Anything is fine. Pfft.”

Aunt Liu: “How about I make you some noodles? Pfft.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Sister, I actually don’t miss home that much. Pfft.”

Aunt Liu: “Understood. I’ll make you Yang Chun Mian. How many bowls do you want? Pfft.”

Chen Xiyuan: “One bowl, no, one bowl is enough. I’ve got it under control. Pfft.”

Aunt Liu: “They’ve all had breakfast. I’ll make yours later. Pfft.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Alright, I’ll eat some more melon seeds. Pfft.”

As the sun gradually rose and the outside grew warmer, Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li returned to their room.

Aunt Liu and Chen Xiyuan clapped their hands together.

“The noodles will be ready soon, just wait to eat.”

“Alright, thank you, sister.”

Aunt Liu scanned the clothes Chen Xiyuan was wearing today. They were the old madam’s clothes, unworn, new, but in a style from her youth, with a light green as the main color.

Chen Xiyuan: “Do I look good, Sister?”

Aunt Liu nodded: “You look good.”

The girl was undeniably beautiful, and her temperament was good too, with a hint of the mistress’s youthful charm, but in spirit, she lacked the mistress’s coldness and dignified authority from back then.

The Yang Chun Mian was ready and served. Aunt Liu also prepared some small steamed buns and a few pastries.

Chen Xiyuan took her first bite, slightly puzzled.

Aunt Liu explained, “Those who love it, love this chewy texture. But some people aren’t used to it and find it undercooked.”

Chen Xiyuan: “It’s delicious.”

Li Sanjiang returned.

Although he returned from a hangover, Li Sanjiang’s steps were still steady. At his age, no one could persuade him to cut back on smoking and drinking, because those who tried also weren’t confident they would live to his age.

“Oh?”

Li Sanjiang stared curiously at the big girl eating noodles on the dam.

This girl was quite pretty, like someone from a television show.

Chen Xiyuan: “Hello, Grandpa Li. I’m Grandma Liu’s grand-niece, here to visit her.”

Li Sanjiang: “Oh, good, good, good. When did you arrive?”

Chen Xiyuan was transported home by Li Zhuiyuan in a tricycle late at night and was drunk for three days and three nights, so Li Sanjiang had no idea that an extra person had appeared in the house.

Aunt Liu: “Arrived last night.”

Li Sanjiang: “Oh, girl, where are you from?”

Chen Xiyuan: “Grandpa Li, I’m from Hainan.”

Li Sanjiang: “Ah, Hainan, that’s a good place.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Grandpa Li, have you been to Hainan?”

Li Sanjiang shook his head: “No, but some years ago, someone I knew went to a farm in Hainan. He came back later and said it was really good there, plenty to eat.”

Those days were unlike now, when one could eat full meals every day. But he still snuck back later.

Because at that time, large-scale infrastructure construction and development had not yet been completed, and the farm where he was located was in a relatively remote area. As an outsider, he was not accustomed to the local climate and environment.

In short, there was no need to worry about starving to death, but other ways of dying became more diverse.

Chen Xiyuan: “Grandpa Li, why don’t you come visit us? The beaches there are so beautiful, unlike the grey, dusty sea here in Nantong.”

Nantong is an alluvial plain, and the seaside is a tidal flat, so although locals live by the sea, they generally don’t have an impression of a clear blue ocean.

Li Sanjiang: “Haha, it’s so far, a trip there isn’t cheap.”

Chen Xiyuan: “My family runs a travel agency. Little brother, that is, Xiao Yuan and the others, are planning to go next. It’s a package tour anyway, adding one more, Grandpa Li, won’t make a difference. Want to come along?”

Li Sanjiang looked hesitant.

Aunt Liu, standing nearby, pursed her lips.

She could tell that the Chen family girl simply wanted to invite Uncle Sanjiang to be her guest. The travel agency part was just a kind way to address the old man’s concerns about travel expenses.

Judging by her attitude towards Uncle Sanjiang, she truly didn’t understand Uncle Sanjiang’s special nature, otherwise, she wouldn’t have invited him in front of her like that.

Li Sanjiang: “Haha, forget it, forget it. It’s too far and too much hassle. I don’t know anyone there either.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Grandpa Li, you like to drink? My grandpa also loves to drink. Let me tell you, my grandpa has stored a lot, a lot of wine.”

Li Sanjiang: “Hehe, you keep eating. If it’s not enough, tell Ting Hou to make you more. Live here as if it’s your own home, don’t be shy. If you want to eat anything, ask Ting Hou to buy it in town.”

Chen Xiyuan looked at Aunt Liu: “Sister, I want to try all the local dishes. Will you cook them for me? If you cook them, I’ll eat my fill and won’t leave a single bit.”

Aunt Liu: “Okay.”

Li Sanjiang felt that this girl was unpretentious and quite likable, especially her love for eating, which greatly comforted him recently.

“Oh, by the way, Ting Hou, where are the mules? How come they’re all gone?”

“They all went out to deliver goods after breakfast. They’ll be back before lunch.”

“Oh, yesterday, while drinking, there was a man from Yancheng at the table. He said that in his village, people have recently seen someone floating on the river at night, but no matter how the villagers shined their flashlights, they couldn’t find anyone.

They want to invite me to their village to take a look. I’m thinking of asking You Hou to accompany me to perform a ritual for them.”

“Alright, when Ah You comes back, I’ll tell him for you. Uncle Sanjiang, why don’t you go back upstairs and sleep for a bit?”

“Mmm, I’ll lie down for a while longer.”

After Li Sanjiang went upstairs, Chen Xiyuan happened to finish her breakfast and asked Aunt Liu:

“How about I go there?”

If it was fake, then so be it. If it was real, it was merely a somewhat sinister dead body, easy enough to dispose of.

Aunt Liu shrugged: “You can’t ask me about that.”

Chen Xiyuan suddenly understood, nodding, “Right, I forgot. I’m supposed to be used by little brother to do things now.”

After breakfast, Chen Xiyuan stayed downstairs for a while, then couldn’t hold back and went upstairs. On the terrace, she quietly asked from a distance:

“Little brother, little sister, can elder sister come in?”

There was no response from inside.

“Creak…”

A-Li opened the screen door.

Chen Xiyuan walked in.

Under the young man’s mandatory “holiday” request, A-Li finally began drawing the story of the previous wave.

Chen Xiyuan saw Li Zhuiyuan sitting at the desk, intently reading a book. She didn’t dare to disturb him and stood in front of A-Li’s drawing table.

On the wall above the drawing table hung three paintings.

They were also drawn by A-Li, depicting three evil spirits fished out of the girl’s dreams by Li Zhuiyuan.

After observing carefully, Chen Xiyuan lowered her head and looked at the painting A-Li was currently creating.

The scroll was placed vertically, with different characters and scenes arranged from top to bottom.

At the very top was an ancestral hall, and standing at the entrance of the ancestral hall was the little brother.

In front of the little brother, which is the lower part of the painting, was a majestic figure—this was Yu Tiannan from Yu Di Bei Meng’s dream.

Further down were, in order, the evil tide, the old dog, and a host of ferocious beasts summoned by the little brother.

At the very bottom of the scroll was the gate of the Yu family, and above the gate were a group of people who were guarding it at the time.

In this painting, the figure of the little brother is very small, but he is at the highest point, symbolizing that the resolution of the final crisis was driven by him.

Yu Tiannan’s figure was not described in too much detail, but his aura already overflowed.

Chen Xiyuan’s attention was first drawn to the little sister’s depiction of the evil tide.

No matter how detailed the little brother explained the experience of the previous wave to the little sister, it was impossible to specify the characteristics of each evil entity. Many of the evil entities here were not personally seen by Chen Xiyuan that day, yet their presence here was not at all out of place.

Chen Xiyuan sniffed and said, “Little sister, if they dare to bother you again, tell elder sister, and elder sister will play the flute for you.”

A-Li did not respond.

Chen Xiyuan silently extended her hand, pointing to the very bottom of the painting, where all the gatekeepers were, and said:

“Little sister, how about you paint elder sister in front of these people? I’m telling you, elder sister charged really far ahead back then, really!”

A-Li placed her finger on a spot in front of the crowd.

Chen Xiyuan: “A little further forward?”

A-Li’s finger continued to move upwards.

Chen Xiyuan: “It can be a little further forward.”

A-Li continued to move upwards.

Chen Xiyuan: “Mmm, that’s good, yes, that position.”

She couldn’t go any further, or the sense of the story in the painting would become distorted and misplaced, making it seem like she was alone in the evil tide, fighting countless evil entities by herself.

Chen Xiyuan: “Little sister, um, when you’re drawing, elder sister can ‘fly’ up, just like last night. Elder sister can activate her domain and jump very high.”

First, she requested a prominent position; now, she wanted image design.

A-Li nodded.

Every time she painted the young man’s story of the previous wave, she would do some artistic embellishment. Now, it was just a matter of embellishing one more person.

“Hehe, little sister, you’re so nice.”

Chen Xiyuan instinctively placed her hands on A-Li’s shoulders, then immediately withdrew them.

A-Li didn’t react and continued painting.

Chen Xiyuan stood by the drawing table, admiring the artwork, and also took out some completed paintings from a nearby scroll tube, carefully unrolling them to appreciate.

She knew that if they weren’t meant to be seen, the little brother would speak up to stop her. Since the little brother hadn’t responded, it implied tacit permission.

When she unrolled one of the paintings, Chen Xiyuan couldn’t help but lower her head and observe carefully.

The painting depicted two children, carrying schoolbags, walking down a street. This street had both ancient-style private schools and modern kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, various tutoring classes, and in the distance, more towering phantom images, seemingly institutions of higher learning.

A picture that, though a mix of elements, was incredibly harmonious: “The Pursuit of Knowledge.”

The painting exuded a vibrant energy, yet also a hint of melancholy. The children’s schoolbags were large, and though their faces bore smiles, these smiles were somewhat bittersweet.

Most strangely, Chen Xiyuan noticed that these two children had two extremely pure soul aura fluctuations within them.

Chen Xiyuan subconsciously exclaimed, “How can this be…”

Li Zhuiyuan closed the book in his hand, gently rubbed his neck, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Xiyuan: “How can there be no music tutoring classes!”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Can you draw?”

Chen Xiyuan: “A little, but not as well as little sister.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Then add it in.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Really?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Mm.”

Chen Xiyuan picked up her flute, dipped its edge in paint, and then began to draw a music tutoring class on the street in the painting.

Drawing one modern one wasn’t enough, so she drew an ancient one too. From the divine perspective of the painting, one could see Guzhengs, Qin, and even Bianzhong placed in the ancient courtyard.

The Cui Di already accumulated the Longwang Chen’s fortune, and Chen Xiyuan had just completed a wave, so she had a lot of merit. Moreover, she truly didn’t care about these things.

Therefore, although only two places were added, the texture of the entire painting significantly improved.

“Little brother, I’m done drawing. Take a look.”

Li Zhuiyuan walked over, looked at the painting, and nodded.

Chen Xiyuan very gently rolled the painting back up and placed it in the scroll tube.

However, as her gaze swept back to the painting A-Li was working on, as if suddenly realizing something, she turned to look at the young man standing beside her.

“Little sister… she’s also on the river?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Mm.”

Chen Xiyuan was at a loss for words.

Compared to herself, the little brother and little sister truly had a much harder life.

Li Zhuiyuan: “My great-grandfather just mentioned the Yancheng matter; you need to go handle it.”

Although sitting in the room upstairs, the conversation between the two in the courtyard still clearly reached Li Zhuiyuan’s ears.

Chen Xiyuan: “Okay, should I go now?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “No rush, we still need two more. Once the other two are gathered and everyone is here, we’ll act together.”

The young man’s compass could estimate the approximate locations of these three evil entities. If all went as expected, Yancheng should be the first self-made ripple to appear among the three lines.

Chen Xiyuan: “Alright, I’ll wait. You notify me when it’s time to set off.”

Li Zhuiyuan originally wanted to remind Chen Xiyuan that the evil entities to be dealt with this time were different from the usual ones, and it would be best to approach them with the same seriousness as when walking the river. But considering Chen Xiyuan’s attitude when she used to walk the river… he felt there was no need for a reminder.

The little brother and little sister in the room were simply too quiet; Chen Xiyuan couldn’t stand staying for long, so she went out.

As she left, Li Zhuiyuan mentioned to her that if she saw peaches on the trees, she should pick them all and bring them back.

Chen Xiyuan first asked Aunt Liu about lunch time, then grabbed a basket and ran down the dam to the bearded man’s house.

Ben Ben saw Chen Xiyuan coming and, holding onto the railing, smiled at her.

Chen Xiyuan walked over, picked up Ben Ben, stroked and rubbed him, enjoying herself to the fullest.

After putting the child down, Chen Xiyuan walked into the peach forest.

Ben Ben sat in the crib, hands in front of him, looking eager and ready to clap.

Before long, music started playing, and Ben Ben happily danced to the rhythm, waving his hands and feet.

“Oh oh oh”

Old Man Tian rolled up his sleeves and walked out of the kitchen.

“Child, are you hungry?”

Ben Ben shook his head, then continued to enjoy himself.

Old Man Tian smiled and went back inside to continue making snacks for his young master.

Zhao Yi has arrived.

His voice was heard before he was seen.

“Old Tian!”

“Ay, Young Master, wait a moment, I’m frying something!”

Zhao Yi, with Chen Jing, the Liang sisters, and Xu Ming, walked onto the dam.

“Yo?”

Zhao Yi walked, swaying his elbows, moving forward with a relaxed stride, following the beat.

The Liang sisters were initially confused, thinking their young master was dancing with Ben Ben.

But after the two sisters intertwined their hands, both women simultaneously showed an intoxicated expression.

Chen Jing was already entranced.

Xu Ming looked puzzled; he didn’t know why his boss and companions had suddenly become so excited.

Zhao Yi danced over to the crib, keeping the exact same rhythm as Ben Ben.

But then, Zhao Yi extended his right hand, held up two fingers towards Ben Ben, making a tapping gesture.

Ben Ben pouted, lowered his hands, and covered his little sparrow.

“Hahahaha!”

Zhao Yi burst out laughing.

Chen Jing walked over, looked at Ben Ben curiously, and couldn’t help but say:

“Brother Yi, this child smells so good.”

Ben Ben turned his head, looked at Chen Jing, his eyes wide with fright.

Chen Jing quickly waved his hand, explaining, “No, no, I just said you smell good, I don’t want to eat you.”

Zhao Yi: “Smells good, doesn’t he? Just as good as me when I was a child.”

The music stopped.

Zhao Yi addressed the peach forest: “It seems you’re in a very good mood today.”

Perhaps, he had a good time whipping people a while ago.

Old Man Tian hurried out with a plate: “Young master, everyone, come, come, eat some snacks, just out of the pot, eat them while they’re hot.”

Everyone went to grab snacks. Zhao Yi took a bite, just about to praise Old Man Tian’s cooking, when he saw Chen Xiyuan, with a flute hanging from her waist, carrying a basket of peaches in her left hand, and holding another peach in her right hand, eating as she walked out of the peach forest.

Zhao Yi’s expression shifted from confusion to astonishment, then from astonishment to shock, then from shock to bewilderment, and finally all converged into a surging, almost overflowing, unwillingness!

“Why!”

Chen Xiyuan: “Hey, do you want some peaches?”

Zhao Yi took a deep breath and, with eyes tinged with scarlet, replied, “Yes, I do!”

Chen Xiyuan looked down at the number of peaches in the basket and said, “There should be enough. I’ll take them back to the little brother first, and then you can get them from him.”

With that, Chen Xiyuan left.

Zhao Yi stood with his hands on his hips, stuck out his tongue, and asked, “Old Tian, was she really dragged out of the peach forest by that surnamed Li?”

Old Man Tian: “Yes, Young Master. I saw it with my own eyes. Young Master Xiao Yuan was drenched in sweat from dragging her out.”

Zhao Yi: “Was she injured?”

Old Man Tian: “No injuries, but she reeked of alcohol.”

Zhao Yi: “Heh, hehe, hahaha!”

After visiting Old Man Tian, Zhao Yi left his subordinates at the Bearded Man’s house and went to Liu Jinxia’s house himself, preparing to kowtow to his god-grandmother.

Arriving at the entrance, he saw Cui Cui standing on the dam.

Cui Cui was very happy to see Zhao Yi, after all, this big brother had taken her, her mother, and her sister to Jiujiang to play, and later always sent her gifts.

“Brother Zhao Yi, you’re here!”

“Who are you? Why don’t I know you? Where’s Cui Cui? Our Cui Cui, where is she? Hurry up and tell me!”

“Brother Zhao Yi, it’s me, I’m Cui Cui.”

“Nonsense, how could our Cui Cui be so beautiful!”

“Oh dear!” Cui Cui stamped her foot shyly, “I’ll go tell Grandma that you’re here, big brother. Grandma, Grandma, Brother Zhao Yi is here!”

Zhao Yi walked to the living room doorway, first saw Liu Jinxia sitting there, and spoke:

“God-grandmother…”

Then, his gaze shifted, and he saw Liu Yumei also sitting inside.

Unless he saw her with his own eyes, he couldn’t perceive Liu Yumei’s aura, which immediately made his emotions disjointed, and he stammered:

“You… you’re here too?”

Liu Yumei nodded and said, “The tea you gave your god-grandmother was given to me by her. Thank you.”

Zhao Yi: “You’re being too polite. My god-grandmother is your sister, so you are also my, Zhao Yi’s, grandmother. It’s only right to show you respect.”

Liu Jinxia pointed at Zhao Yi and said, “This child has such a sweet tongue, he definitely won’t have trouble finding a partner outside in the future. Oh, right, he already has one, two in fact…”

Zhao Yi: “God-grandmother, are you all playing cards here today?”

Liu Jinxia said very proudly, “Your Grandma Liu had a grand-niece come to visit, and there weren’t enough beds, so your Grandma Liu has been sleeping here these past few days.”

Zhao Yi: “…”

Liu Jinxia then wondered, “It’s just, why haven’t I seen Sister Liu’s grand-niece these past few days?”

Liu Yumei: “The girl loves to drink. When she drinks too much, she sleeps soundly. Her grandparents spoiled her, so let her be.”

Liu Jinxia: “Oh dear, oh dear, Zhao Yi, why are your lips bleeding? Heavens, so much blood!”

At this moment, a stranger arrived at the door.

Xiang Hou went to communicate and inquire.

After a while, Xiang Hou returned.

Those in this line of work can tell if someone is a customer with a glance.

Generally, those who come to the door and are not in a hurry to enter are there to invite oneself out.

If they were asking for a fortune-telling or to write some talismans and incantations, Liu Jinxia would do it at home. But if they were asking her to go out for a ritual, and Sister Liu was still at her house right now, how could she leave Sister Liu here and go out to work herself?

Xiang Hou: “Someone introduced him, saying you’re spiritual, Mom, and they’ve come to invite you out to Yangzhou.”

Liu Jinxia quickly waved her hand: “No, no. Tell him thank you for the compliment, but I haven’t been feeling well lately and won’t go out.”

Zhao Yi pressed his lower lip into his mouth, sucking in the blood.

At this moment, no matter how strong his inner emotions were, Zhao Yi did not forget his basic etiquette.

Although he thought it was a bit absurd, considering he and that surnamed Li had just completed a wave, even the most absurd things, when they happened to that surnamed Li, seemed to be explicable in the end.

Zhao Yi stopped Xiang Hou, telling her to go back inside to cook, and he would convey the refusal on her behalf.

Immediately, Zhao Yi walked down the dam and put his arm around the man’s shoulder:

“I am the generational inheritor of Immortal Liu, her recognized god-grandson. The immortal is currently in seclusion and cannot go out these days. She specifically sent me down the mountain to help you resolve your troubles.

Don’t worry, regardless of whether the matter is ultimately resolved or not, I won’t charge you a single cent. Consider it purely accumulating merit for myself!”

After returning from Liu Jinxia’s house, Zhao Yi went to Li Sanjiang’s house.

He happened to encounter an old man from Yancheng, Tan Wenbin, who had been drinking with Li Sanjiang at the carpenter’s house yesterday. Tan Wenbin was currently chatting with him after offering him a cigarette.

“Don’t worry, I am a descendant of Li, the Corpse Retriever of Nantong. You go back first; I will arrive in a few days. Once there, regardless of whether the problem is solved, I will not accept a single meal or a single coin from you. Consider it pure good deeds and accumulation of merit for a corpse retriever!”

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately smiled and nodded repeatedly. After leaving his specific address, he left.

Beside him, Chen Xiyuan, with folded arms, asked somewhat bewilderedly, “Didn’t little brother assign the Yancheng task to me?”

Tan Wenbin: “Brother Xiao Yuan meant for me to accompany the away team… away team, you’re here! I’ve missed you so much!”

Zhao Yi pointed to the second floor, and said coldly, “Tell that surnamed Li to come out. I want to ask him personally if teasing me is very amusing!”

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiyuan proactively walked towards Zhao Yi.

She advanced, he retreated.

She continued to advance, he continued to retreat.

No matter how clever the surnamed Li’s mind and methods were, Zhao Yi wasn’t afraid to approach him. But the person in front of him, she possessed both intelligence and martial prowess.

At close range, she could truly pick him up and plant him in the field like a seedling.

“Stop, stop, stop! Miss Chen, if I retreat any further, I’ll be in the river!”

Chen Xiyuan: “If you have something to say, you can tell me first.”

Zhao Yi: “No, this matter has nothing to do with you, Miss Chen…”

Halfway through his sentence, Zhao Yi had no choice but to swallow his words. This matter truly had a great deal to do with the person in front of him.

Zhao Yi: “You’ve misunderstood. He’s teased me more than once or twice. The angrier I get like this, the happier that surnamed Li becomes. If you don’t believe me, ask Tan Daban, isn’t that right?”

Tan Wenbin sighed, “Alas, Young Master Zhao, you’ve taken all the fame. My Brother Xiao Yuan just wanted to play a small joke and regain a little face, and you won’t even allow that?”

Zhao Yi: “Tan Daban, if you keep playing like this, be careful, I might clear the monarch’s side later.”

Tan Wenbin: “Tsk tsk, Team Leader Zhao still thinks about suppressing rebellion.”

At this moment, Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the room.

Zhao Yi quickly raised his hand and waved, then immediately made a wavy gesture, shouting, “Brother Xiao Yuan, did you miss me?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Come up.”

“Alright, coming, Teacher Xiao Yuan.”

Chen Xiyuan looked at Zhao Yi’s back and asked Tan Wenbin, “Why is their relationship always so good?”

Tan Wenbin: “Because Zhao Yi is always being suppressed by our Brother Xiao Yuan.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Always being suppressed, yet still constantly approaching?”

Tan Wenbin: “Team Leader, have you forgotten the meeting that day?”

“Oh, right. If it were me, I’d probably approach too.” Chen Xiyuan paused, then corrected herself, “No, it seems I’ve already proactively come closer.”

Tan Wenbin: “Team Leader, if all goes well, I’ll go to Yancheng with you. Our Brother Xiao Yuan is worried you might get lost alone.”

“Lost? I’m not that stupid, I know the way, and I won’t go to the wrong door.”

Tan Wenbin tapped the cigarette in his palm, saying nothing.

Chen Xiyuan glanced in the direction of the Bearded Man’s house, pouted, and said:

“You should still accompany me.”

“Mm, rest assured, Team Leader. My eyes are like a camera; I guarantee I’ll capture the most perfect photos of you suppressing evil spirits.”

At this moment, Tan Wenbin’s big phone rang, and he picked up the call.

“Hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss!”

A piercing noise came through, and Tan Wenbin instinctively moved the phone away from his ear.

However, he also knew who was calling him from this sound.

It was someone from the Bai family.

When the Bai family called him using a public phone, their unique nature would affect the magnetic field.

After a while, a somewhat dazed voice came from the other end of the phone. It was likely a Bai family lady speaking through a passerby:

“Lord Tan.”

“Speak.”

“Something has happened on Chongming Island recently. We discovered an old tree deeply buried underground, and it’s somewhat unusual.

Its location, according to the current administrative division, does not belong to Nantong, and therefore is not subject to the Dragon King’s pressure and deterrence.”

Tan Wenbin: “What, you can’t handle it?”

“Replying to your lordship, last night a Bai family lady went to investigate and has not yet returned. If we wish to go ashore collectively, we must first seek your lordship’s permission.”

“Observe first, you don’t need to act.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Tan Wenbin hung up the phone and said to Chen Xiyuan:

“Let’s go, Team Chen, we’re having a meeting.”

“You surnamed Li, you don’t have to keep it from me. Do you know how much pain I feel when I learn the truth?”

“Telling you the truth would only cause you more pain for a few days.”

“I really don’t understand. The one under the peach forest kept saying I was like him, yet he hung me up and thrashed me so badly, but he took extra care of her. Why?”

“The one under the peach forest has always been miserable. Since you are like him, he certainly wants to make you just as miserable.”

Zhao Yi smiled, then sighed heavily, pointing to the indentation on the dam below, which he had made when kowtowing:

“I can understand this part. Who told my Zhao family ancestors and the old madam not to have any old ties?”

“If your Zhao family ancestors had ties with my old madam earlier, your Jiujiang Zhao might not have existed before you were even born.”

Zhao Yi: “Thank you.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “You’re welcome.”

Zhao Yi: “Someone asked my god-grandmother to do a job in Yangzhou.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded: “That matches up.”

Tan Wenbin and Chen Xiyuan walked up together.

“Brother Xiao Yuan, news from Bai Family Town. A strange tree has been discovered on Chongming Island.”

Li Zhuiyuan walked into the room and took down the three paintings hanging on the wall.

The one depicting a human-like, beast-like figure with a black mask and scales covering its body, Li Zhuiyuan handed to Zhao Yi.

The painting of the red-clad, ghost-like, one-eyed figure, the young man gave to Chen Xiyuan.

The last one, depicting a woman with old tree roots coiling beneath her, Li Zhuiyuan rolled up and held himself.

Li Zhuiyuan’s gaze first went to Zhao Yi, then to Chen Xiyuan, and he spoke:

“The clues are very clear. Without further ado, after dinner, we’ll split into three groups and each go resolve the evil entities in the paintings.

Three requirements.

First, no matter how deeply hidden it is, no matter how difficult to find, I can assure you that the evil entity in the painting is definitely there.

Second, during the process of dealing with the evil entity, avoid affecting ordinary people.

Third, whether or not you have the means to suppress this evil entity, do not eliminate it on the spot. Keep it alive and escort it back here to me.”

Zhao Yi licked his still-wounded lower lip and said,

“Must bring them back? Surnamed Li, are you going to suppress these evil entities here, turning your Daoist temple into a new Dragon King’s ancestral home in the future?”

Chen Xiyuan: “Little brother, are you performing the acts of the successive Dragon Kings?”

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head and said:

“I am different from the past Dragon Kings. I will not bring evil entities from outside back home for long-term suppression.

Firstly, if they accumulate, it’s easy to create future hidden dangers, the Yu family being half a cautionary tale. Secondly, that would be too much of a waste of evil things.”

Chen Xiyuan frowned and said, “Won’t suppress evil spirits for long…”

Zhao Yi’s smile grew wider: “Ancestor, your recent insights and breakthroughs are quite significant.”

At this moment, Aunt Liu’s voice came from downstairs:

“Lunch is ready!”